Treated water.
One final step at home.

Most Melbourne water begins as rainfall collected in protected catchments and reservoirs. When extra supply is needed, the Victorian Desalination Plant converts seawater into drinking water. The government ordered 50 billion litres for 2025–26; the plant can produce up to 150 billion litres a year.

Reverse osmosis removes salts from desalinated water before it is stabilised and remineralised. Across Melbourne’s supply, treatment can include chlorine or chloramine for disinfection, fluoride for dental health, pH adjustment, filtration and ultraviolet treatment. The exact process depends on the source and plant.

Water moves through around 1,300 kilometres of Melbourne Water’s major pipelines and aqueducts before entering local networks. Yarra Valley Water maintains about 10,475 kilometres of water mains and South East Water more than 14,000 kilometres.

Melbourne’s water system dates back to the 1850s. Major reservoirs and supply infrastructure were added throughout the 1920s, 1930s and later decades. Ageing mains are still renewed today—Yarra Valley Water says it replaces up to 50 kilometres of pipe each year.

Construction, repairs, bursts and sudden pressure or flow changes can shake loose sediment, mineral deposits and corrosion material already sitting inside water mains. This can temporarily produce brown, cloudy or discoloured water—the kind of change many households notice after nearby works.

Boss adds filtration at your property’s main water entry. Three stages help reduce dirt, sand, rust, sediment, chlorine, unwanted tastes and odours, limescale and other targeted impurities before water reaches taps, showers and appliances throughout your home.