Older suburbs such as Linwood and Woolston, riverside streets in Burwood, 1960s and later homes in Parklands, and beachside homes in New Brighton and Sumner, many repaired or rebuilt after the earthquakes. For many years Christchurch supplied drinking water straight from deep aquifers with no treatment at all. That changed in 2018, when the council began chlorinating much of the city, and chlorine has since been added to every supply zone. The water is safe to drink, but for many households it no longer tastes the way it used to.
Water filtration in the east: rebuilt homes, coastal baches and whole house options
East and Coastal Christchurch is supplied from the same deep, now chlorinated aquifers as every other part of Christchurch, and the chlorine taste is the most common reason people here ask about filtration. Many homes in Linwood, Burwood and New Brighton were repaired or rebuilt after 2010 and 2011, and a rebuild or major renovation is the best time to fit a whole house filter where the supply pipe enters the home.
Fitted at the point of entry, a whole house carbon unit strips most of the chlorine taste and smell from every tap, including showers and baths. It needs space and access near the point of entry, and the pipework has to suit. In a rebuilt home, that space can be planned in, while in an older house we find the best position on the existing supply pipe.
Some properties in the east also sit near the coast, where salt air affects outdoor fittings and filter housings. We use housings suited to the conditions and place them where they are protected. Woolston businesses may need filtration for process water or staff kitchens.
Because Christchurch water is not hard, being low in hardness, softeners are rarely needed. Most eastern homes are well served by either a drinking water filter under the kitchen sink or a whole house unit. We explain the trade offs, give you a fixed price and set up reminders for cartridge changes, because a clogged cartridge restricts flow and can harbour bacteria. If you have a pressure sewer tank, filtration does not affect it, because it is on the supply side. Sumner homes on the valley floor often have compact laundries where an under sink filter fits more easily than a whole house unit.
Local tip: If you are renovating a home in New Brighton or Linwood, plan space for a whole house filter near where the water supply enters.
For anything else, see our plumbers in East and Coastal Christchurch.
Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Water Filtration Jobs We Do in East and Coastal Christchurch
- Whole house water filters
- Cartridge replacements
Water Filtration East and Coastal Christchurch FAQs
Will a whole house filter reduce water pressure in my Burwood home?
A correctly sized filter has little effect on pressure. We size it to your household's flow so showers and taps run normally.
Is Christchurch tap water safe to drink?
Yes. It comes from deep aquifers and is now chlorinated in every zone. A filter on town supply is mainly about taste and smell.
Do I need a water softener in Christchurch?
Usually not. The council's typical analysis shows a hardness of about 45 g/m3, which rarely calls for a softener.