While the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines specify that our tap water ought not to contain harmful concentrations of chemicals or pathogenic microorganisms, not all tap water suppliers are equal. And as consumer magazine Choice states, in some cases ‘installing a filter may be your only feasible option’ to ensure a healthy drinking water supply. Is drinking tap water harmful? By and large Australian tap water is not harmful. However, if your water supply is compromised, or if you simply don’t like the taste or odour of it, you might want to consider a filtration system.