BlogGuidesBy Liam Doyle3 November 2026

Why Does My Tap Water Taste Like Chlorine, and What Can I Do About It?

Your tap water tastes like chlorine because most people can smell it from about 0.6 milligrams per litre (mg/L), and sensitive people from 0.2 mg/L, which sits well below the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines maximum of 5 mg/L, according to WA Department of Health guidance reviewed on 3 June 2022. The easiest fix at the kitchen tap is the Flowpure stainless steel tap filter, which reduces chlorine and the unpleasant taste and smell it leaves, and which is worth having in any Australian kitchen where a glass of water tastes like the local pool.

Why Can I Taste Chlorine When the Level Meets Guidelines?

You can notice chlorine below the guideline level because the threshold for smelling it is much lower than the limit. The WA Department of Health, in guidance reviewed on 3 June 2022, says the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines set a maximum of 5 mg/L, while most people can smell chlorine from about 0.6 mg/L and sensitive people may notice it at 0.2 mg/L. Local council advice makes a similar point, saying some people can detect chlorine well below guideline levels. So, a noticeable smell and a guideline exceedance are two separate questions.

The WA Department of Health states that chlorinated drinking water is safe to drink, and I have no wish to argue with that. What I would say is that meeting standards and tasting clean are different things, and safe is not the same as clean when you are holding a glass that smells of the swimming pool. In my opinion, that gap is a good reason to filter at the kitchen tap, with chlorine reduction as the one clear job you can notice in every glass.

Why Is It Stronger on Some Days or From the Hot Tap?

Warmth can make chlorine taste and smell more noticeable, and chlorine levels in Western Australian scheme water vary with flow rate, distance from the treatment plant and maintenance periods, according to the WA Department of Health. The same guidance, reviewed on 3 June 2022, says scheme water there usually contains 0.5 to 1.5 mg/L of chlorine. That is a Western Australian range, so I would not apply it to every kitchen in the country, but it shows why one tap can taste different from another on a different day.

If chlorine taste or smell changes, describe what you notice when contacting your local water provider. Is it stronger from the hot tap, present at every cold tap, or something that only began this morning? Those details give the provider a clearer starting point, and they also help explain why a neighbour might notice something different from you (flow and distance both play a part). I would also ask which disinfectant your supply uses, because that is handy to know before you choose any fix.

Will Chilling, Standing or Boiling Help the Taste?

The WA Department of Health recommends chilling water in an uncovered jug, pouring it between jugs several times or using an activated carbon jug filter, and I would treat those as the dependable fixes rather than guess at boiling times or how long to leave a glass on the bench. Of those, the uncovered jug in the fridge is the easiest to try tonight, and it costs nothing. A carbon jug filter works too, though it means someone has to keep refilling the jug.

That being said, the daily routine is where jug based fixes wear thin, because somebody has to remember to fill and chill the jug before dinner. In my opinion, filtering at the tap does the same job at the moment you pour, which is why the Flowpure stainless steel tap filter suits a busy kitchen better than a jug in the fridge door. You turn on the tap and the chlorine taste is already reduced.

What If the Taste Is Sudden, Persistent or Different?

If the taste is sudden, persistent or different, describe what you notice and ask your local water provider for the appropriate steps. Local council advice can suggest running a cold tap for several minutes and then contacting the council if the taste continues. That is local advice, so readers should ask their own provider. When you call, say when it began, which taps are affected and what the smell is like, because a plain description saves everyone time.

A chlorine smell is also not the only thing tap water can do. ABC News reported in January 2025 that parts of Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan had earthy, grassy or musty tap water caused by naturally occurring MIB after heavy rain and hot weather, and that authorities confirmed it remained safe to drink. Trihalomethanes are another term you may meet: the WA Department of Health says they can form when chlorine reacts with organic matter, and gives a guideline limit of 0.25 mg/L. I would ask for local results rather than treat an unfamiliar word as a reason to worry.

Which Filter Would I Put on the Kitchen Tap?

I would choose the Flowpure stainless steel tap filter because its jobs match the reason for buying. It reduces chlorine and unpleasant taste and odours, and it blocks sediment, rust and visible particles. The stainless steel body suits a tap that everyone sees, and a refill is good for about 1,200 litres, up to three months. Check your tap thread before ordering so the fit is right, and I also like how stainless steel looks on a kitchen tap.

In my opinion, a Flowpure filter is worth having because a cleaner tasting, better smelling glass is an everyday improvement, and the case rests on everyday things rather than a frightening story. It rests on chlorine reduction and on catching sediment and rust. Ask for the performance information you want to see before you buy, then put the first cartridge change on the calendar the day the filter arrives.

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