A whole-house filter treats every drop of water the moment it enters your home, so the shower, kitchen tap, washing machine and hot water system all get filtered water. The Bluegum Triple Stage Whole House Water Filter & Softener does three jobs in one stainless steel unit: it removes sediment, reduces chlorine taste and odour, and softens hard water.
Most Australian homes on town water get a supply that is safe to drink. But safe isn't the same as pleasant. Chlorine is added to keep mains water free of bacteria, and many people notice it in the smell of a hot shower or the taste of a glass of water. Older pipes and mains works can send sand, silt and rust through the system. And in harder-water areas, calcium and magnesium leave white scale on shower screens, tapware and inside hot water units.
A point-of-use filter under the kitchen sink only fixes one tap. A whole-house system fixes the lot. This guide covers how the Bluegum system works, what it does and doesn't remove, how it's installed and maintained, and answers the questions we get asked most often.
What is the Bluegum whole house filter?
It's a three-stage filtration and softening system built into a 304 stainless steel cabinet that mounts on a wall, close to where the water main enters your property. Inside are three full-size 20 inch Big Blue housings, each with its own pressure gauge, so a plumber can check every stage at a glance.
The system is WaterMark certified to AS/NZS 3497 when used with its supplied cartridge set. That certification matters: in Australia, products connected to the drinking water supply need WaterMark approval, and your plumber will want to see it.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product code | K-3-4520-B-1-SSC-MBXK |
| Enclosure | 304 stainless steel, 0.85 mm shell, 2.5 mm integrated mounting plate |
| Housings | 3 x 20" x 4.5" Big Blue, ABS body, brass threaded connections |
| Connections | 1" NPT CW511 brass, AS 3688 compliant |
| Flow rate | Up to 40 L/min |
| Pressure gauges | 3 x panel gauges, 0–1.6 MPa, stainless case |
| Stage 1 | 5 micron melt-blown PP sediment |
| Stage 2 | 1 micron sintered coconut-shell carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42) |
| Stage 3 | Cation-exchange softening resin |
| Certification | WaterMark AS/NZS 3497 (certified cartridge configuration) |
| Included | Housing wrench, PTFE tape, 2 x brass connectors, 8 x stainless screws |
| Warranty | 5 years on hardware with licensed installation and approved cartridges |
The large 20 inch housings and 1 inch connections are the key to its performance, giving a flow rate of up to 40 litres per minute. They give the water plenty of filter surface to pass through, which keeps flow and pressure up even when several taps are running.
How the three stages work
Water passes through the stages in order, from coarse to fine. Each stage protects the next one, which is why the order matters.
- Sediment (5 micron PP). The first cartridge is a melt-blown polypropylene filter that traps sand, silt, rust flakes and other particles down to 5 microns. For scale, a human hair is roughly 70 microns wide. Taking out the dirt first stops it clogging the finer carbon block downstream.
- Carbon (1 micron sintered coconut-shell block). The second stage is a solid block of activated carbon made from coconut shell. Carbon has a huge internal surface area that grabs chlorine and the compounds behind "pool" taste and smell. This cartridge is certified to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine taste and odour reduction. Its 1 micron rating also catches finer particles that got past stage one.
- Softening (cation-exchange resin). The final stage holds resin beads that swap hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) for softer ions. Less hardness means less scale on glass, tapware, kettles and inside hot water systems.
The gauge on each housing shows the pressure at that stage. When a cartridge starts to load up, the pressure drop across it grows, and the gauges make that easy to spot.
What it removes, and what it doesn't
The Bluegum system is designed for mains (town) water. It targets the three most common complaints on a treated supply: dirt, chlorine taste and smell, and hardness.
| Concern | Does it help? | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Sand, silt, rust, sediment | Yes | 1 and 2 |
| Chlorine taste and odour | Yes | 2 |
| Hardness (calcium, magnesium) and scale | Reduces it | 3 |
| Bacteria and viruses | No, it is not a disinfection system | — |
| Iron and manganese in high levels | Not designed for it | — |
| Fluoride | Not designed for it | — |
Tank, bore, dam and creek water are a different story. These supplies aren't treated by a water authority, so they can carry bacteria, high iron or other issues a cartridge filter won't fix. If you're on an untreated supply, get the water tested first. You may need extra treatment, such as UV disinfection or iron removal, alongside the Bluegum system.
On softening: the resin cartridge reduces hardness rather than eliminating it, and its capacity depends on how hard your water is and how much you use. In very hard water areas the softening stage will be used up faster, so you may need to change that cartridge more often than the other two.
What you'll notice around the home
- Showers and baths. No chlorine smell in the steam, and many people find their skin and hair feel less dry.
- Drinking and cooking. Water from every tap tastes cleaner, so tea, coffee and ice cubes improve too.
- Glass and tapware. Softer water leaves less white scale on shower screens, chrome taps and showerheads, so cleaning is easier.
- Hot water system. Scale builds up inside storage tanks and heat pumps over time. Reducing hardness helps protect the element and the tank.
- Appliances. Washing machines, dishwashers, kettles and coffee machines all run better with less sediment and scale.
- Fixtures and valves. Taking out grit protects tap cartridges, mixers, toilet inlet valves and pressure-limiting valves from wear.
Because it treats water at the point of entry, you get all of this without installing separate filters at each tap.
Installation
The system is installed on the main cold water line after the water meter, before the supply branches off to the rest of the house. That way every outlet downstream receives filtered water.
Use a licensed plumber. In Australia, work on the water supply must be done by a licensed plumber. It's also a condition of the 5-year hardware warranty. Your plumber will typically:
- Choose a wall location close to the meter with room to unscrew the housings and change cartridges.
- Fix the stainless cabinet using the integrated mounting plate and the supplied stainless screws.
- Cut into the main line and connect the 1" brass inlet and outlet.
- Fit isolation valves and, ideally, a bypass so water can keep flowing during servicing.
- Install the three cartridges, open the water slowly, bleed the air and check for leaks.
- Flush the system until the water runs clear, then note the starting pressure on each gauge.
Hot water note: most homes filter both hot and cold this way, because the hot water system is fed from the same cold main.
Garden taps: some owners ask the plumber to tee off a garden tap before the filter, so watering the lawn doesn't use up cartridge life.
Cartridge maintenance
We recommend changing cartridges every 6 to 12 months. Where you land in that range depends on how dirty and hard your water is and how much your household uses.
| Cartridge | Typical change | Signs it's due |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 sediment | 6 to 12 months, sooner after mains works or storms | Brown or grey cartridge, pressure dropping across stage 1 |
| Stage 2 carbon | 6 to 12 months | Chlorine taste or smell returning |
| Stage 3 softening resin | 6 to 12 months, sooner in hard water | Scale or spotting returning on glass and taps |
Use the gauges. Write down the pressure on each gauge when the cartridges are new. If one stage starts reading noticeably lower than when it was new, that cartridge is loading up and it's time to swap it.
Changing cartridges is a simple job: turn off the inlet valve, open a tap to release pressure, unscrew the housing with the supplied wrench, swap the cartridge, check the O-ring is seated and lightly lubricated, then screw the housing back on and slowly turn the water back on.
Use approved Bluegum replacement cartridges. The WaterMark certification and the hardware warranty both apply to the specified cartridge set.
Frequently asked questions
Will a whole house filter reduce my water pressure?
Any filter causes a small pressure drop, but with a properly sized system it usually isn't noticeable at the tap. The Bluegum uses full-size 20" x 4.5" Big Blue housings and 1" connections, which keep flow high. It's rated for up to 40 litres per minute, enough to run a shower, a kitchen tap and a washing machine at once in a typical home. The main cause of pressure loss is a clogged cartridge, so change them on schedule and keep an eye on the gauges.
Does it need power or a drain?
No. It's a cartridge system, so there's nothing to plug in, no backwash cycle and no drain connection. Traditional salt-based softeners need all three.
Do I need to add salt?
No. The softening resin comes in a cartridge that you replace, rather than a tank you refill with salt.
Is softened water safe to drink?
Yes. The softening process swaps hardness minerals for a small amount of sodium. For most people this is negligible, but if you're on a medically restricted low-sodium diet, check with your doctor.
Does it remove fluoride?
No. The system isn't designed to remove fluoride.
Does it kill bacteria or make tank water safe to drink?
No. It's a filtration and softening system, not a disinfection system. Untreated tank, bore, dam or creek water should be tested, and may need UV disinfection or other treatment as well.
Can I use it on tank water?
It will help with sediment and taste, but it's designed for mains water. Pair it with a UV steriliser if your tank supply isn't treated, and test the water first.
Can I install it myself?
Installation on the water supply has to be done by a licensed plumber in Australia. Licensed installation is also required for the 5-year hardware warranty.
Is it WaterMark approved?
Yes. It's WaterMark certified to AS/NZS 3497 in its specified three-cartridge configuration.
How often do the cartridges need changing?
Every 6 to 12 months for most homes. Very dirty or very hard water, or a large household, will push you toward the shorter end.
Can I mount it outside?
The cabinet is 304 stainless steel, which is built to handle the weather. Where possible, choose a shaded spot with easy access for servicing.
Will it filter my hot water too?
Yes, if it's installed on the main line before the hot water system, which is the standard setup.
What's the warranty?
5 years on the hardware (enclosure and housings), with licensed installation and use of approved cartridge sets.
Is it right for your home?
If you're on town water and you notice chlorine in the shower, scale on your glass and taps, or grit in your aerators, the Bluegum Triple Stage system tackles all three in one certified unit. It's built from stainless steel, uses full-size housings for strong flow, and needs no power, salt or drain.
The Bluegum Triple Stage Whole House Water Filter & Softener is available now from Plumber Supplies Australia. Not sure if it suits your water supply? Get in touch with our team and we'll help you work it out.