The Hidden Cost of Poor-Quality Water
Most households don’t consciously budget for water quality — yet many spend thousands of dollars every year trying to work around it.
When you look beyond the water bill, the real cost shows up in bottled water, personal care products, cleaning chemicals, and the gradual wear on appliances and plumbing.
Bottled Water: The Cost Adds Up Fast
Most families don’t buy bottled water by the litre — they buy individual bottles.
In Australia, a typical 600 ml bottle costs around $2–$3, whether it’s from the supermarket, school canteen, service station, café, or sports venue. That works out to $3.30–$5.00 per litre.
If each member of a family of four drinks just 1 litre per day, that equals:
28 litres per week
~1,456 litres per year
At everyday bottle prices, that’s approximately:
$4,800 – $7,300 per year
just on bottled drinking water.
And that doesn’t include:
guests
increased summer consumption
cooking or food preparation
work, school, or sport extras
Many families are genuinely surprised when they add this up — because the cost is spread across small, frequent purchases.
Beyond cost, bottled water also brings other concerns. Millions of plastic bottles end up in landfill or waterways every year, and studies have shown many bottled waters contain micro- and nano-plastic particles that leach from packaging, particularly when bottles are exposed to heat during storage and transport.
Bathroom & Personal Care Products
Unfiltered mains water commonly contains chlorine and chemical by-products that can dry out skin and hair and disrupt natural pH balance. To compensate, many households spend more on “hydrating,” “repair,” or “sensitive” personal care products.
Typical annual spending often includes:
Shampoos and conditioners designed to counter dryness: $250–$400
Moisturisers and body lotions: $200–$350
Specialty soaps and facial cleansers: $150–$300
That’s around $600–$1,150 per year, simply to manage the effects of the water being used every day.
Cleaning & Laundry Add-Ons
Mineral content and chemical residue in water contribute to scale buildup, soap scum, and streaking on surfaces. Over time, this leads to heavier reliance on cleaning products.
Common annual costs include:
Glass and shower screen cleaners: $100–$200
Tile, grout, and soap-scum cleaners: $60–$120
Fabric softeners to improve laundry feel: $120–$250
Dishwasher rinse aids and boosters: $100–$180
That’s an additional $400–$780 per year in products designed to fight what’s coming through the tap.
Appliance & Plumbing Wear
Over time, mineral scale and chemical exposure can reduce the efficiency and lifespan of household appliances and plumbing.
This often shows up as:
Shortened life of hot water systems, washing machines, dishwashers, and kettles
Reduced efficiency and increased energy use
Earlier repairs or replacement than expected
When averaged out, this can represent $300–$600 per year in hidden wear and premature replacement costs.
The Real Annual Cost
When you combine these everyday expenses, many Australian households are unknowingly spending:
$6,100 – $10,300 per year
And that still doesn’t include:
time spent cleaning
energy inefficiency from scale buildup
chlorine vapour exposure during hot showers
ongoing skin or scalp irritation
the inconvenience of buying, storing, and transporting bottled water
A Different Approach
Instead of constantly treating the symptoms of poor-quality water, Smart Home Filtration focuses on fixing the source.
With interest-free payments from around $30 per week (about $1,560 per year), households can enjoy:
Clean, filtered water from every tap
Reduced reliance on bottled water
Lower spend on cleaning and personal care products
Longer-lasting appliances and plumbing
Better results in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry
Many families find they’re already spending far more than this — just in scattered, hidden ways.