7-stage RO.
Tested. Proven. Published.
Independently tested against 80+ contaminants by two accredited laboratories. Reverse osmosis with a membrane pore size of 0.0001 microns — the most thorough water purification technology available without a plumber.
The taste and smell problem — completely solved.
Chlorine keeps water safe in the pipes. By the time it reaches your tap, its job is done — what remains is the taste, the smell, and the byproducts. The RO Countertop removes over 99% of chlorine and its byproducts, including the compounds most filters miss entirely.
Chlorine is safe — but it doesn't belong in your glass
Australian water utilities add chlorine to kill bacteria during distribution. By the time water reaches your home, the chlorine has done its job — what's left is a chemical that affects taste, reacts with organic matter, and produces potentially harmful byproducts. The RO membrane removes chlorine completely, not just partially.
Trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter. Long-term exposure has been linked to bladder cancer and reproductive issues. Where the EcoPro removes 95–99% of these byproducts, the RO Countertop removes them to below detectable limits.
What we tested — and removed
Free Chlorine
Primary disinfectant in Australian tap water
Chloramine
Secondary disinfectant, harder to remove by carbon alone
Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Chlorination byproduct, potential carcinogen
Haloacetic Acids (HAAs)
Chlorination byproducts linked to cancer risk
What you'll notice immediately
No swimming pool smell
Chlorine odour gone from the first pour
No chemical aftertaste
Water tastes clean and neutral
Better coffee and tea
Chlorine-free water lets real flavour come through
mg/L in tap water
Typical chlorine level in Australian homes
THMs removed
Chlorination byproducts eliminated at the membrane
mg/L after RO
Below any detectable threshold
99% PFAS removal. Near-total elimination.
PFAS don't break down in the environment or the human body. Linked to cancer, immune disruption, and hormone interference. The RO Countertop was independently tested against five PFAS compounds spiked well above regulatory limits — and removed 99%.
Why reverse osmosis is the gold standard for PFAS
Carbon-based filters reduce PFAS — but they can't eliminate them. The RO membrane's pores are 0.0001 microns — far smaller than PFAS molecules. They're physically blocked, not just chemically absorbed. The result is 99% removal versus the 70–93% you'd get from a carbon filter alone.
They're called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment or your body. Long-term exposure has been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and reproductive issues. There is no safe level of accumulation — the goal is to minimise exposure as much as possible.
5 PFAS compounds tested
PFOS
Spiked at 100 ng/L
PFOA
Spiked at 500 ng/L
PFHxS
Spiked at 1,000 ng/L
PFBS
Spiked at 2,000 ng/L
PFHxA
Spiked at 2,000 ng/L
Regulatory context
Our test used heavily spiked concentrations — well above real-world Australian tap water levels. Even at spiked levels, the RO membrane reduces PFAS to below every major regulatory limit.
Doesn't break down
Accumulates in the environment and your body
RO removes
Membrane pores smaller than PFAS molecules
In AU water
Found in tap, rainwater and blood nationwide
The one contaminant most filters can't touch.
Fluoride is added to most Australian municipal water. Whether you want it removed is a personal choice — but if you do, only reverse osmosis can do it effectively. Carbon filters, jug filters, and standard tap filters barely make a dent.
Why fluoride is a physics problem — and why RO is the only real solution
Fluoride is a dissolved ion — a single fluorine atom carrying a negative charge, dissolved at the molecular level. It's so small it passes straight through carbon filters, jug filters, and most "advanced" systems that claim to remove it.
Reverse osmosis forces water through a membrane with pores of 0.0001 microns — small enough to physically block fluoride ions. Our results: 0.85 mg/L reduced to below 0.01 mg/L. That's >99% removal, independently verified.
Boiling makes fluoride worse. Water evaporates but fluoride stays — concentrating it further. Your kettle cannot help you here.
What actually removes fluoride
Tappwater RO Countertop
Reverse osmosis membrane (0.0001 μm)
Carbon tap filters
e.g. Tappwater EcoPro — lab verified
Jug / pitcher filters
Standard carbon cartridge
Boiling water
Kettle / stovetop
Influent: 0.85 mg/L → Effluent: <0.01 mg/L. Reduced to below detectable limits. Tested by Equinox Labs, April 2025.
Our honest take on fluoride
Whether you want fluoride in your water is a personal decision. What's not a matter of opinion is which technology can remove it — and only reverse osmosis has the physics to do it effectively.
We publish these numbers alongside our EcoPro results (70% partial removal via carbon) so you can make an informed choice. If near-total fluoride removal is your priority, the RO Countertop is the only Tappwater product that delivers it.
100% bacteria removed. Not reduced — eliminated.
Carbon filters can reduce bacteria. The RO Countertop removes them completely. The 0.0001 micron membrane is 2,000× smaller than a typical bacterium — nothing biological gets through. Independently tested against four pathogens. Every result: undetectable.
4 pathogens tested — all undetectable
E. coli
Primary indicator of faecal contamination
Total Coliform
Broad indicator of microbial water safety
Clostridium perfringens
Chlorine-resistant spore-forming pathogen
Enterococcus
Antibiotic-resistant pathogen indicator
Why the RO membrane is categorically different
A typical bacterium is 0.2–2 microns in size. The RO membrane's pores are 0.0001 microns — roughly 2,000 times smaller. Bacteria don't get reduced. They are physically blocked from passing through.
Carbon filters can adsorb some bacteria through chemical attraction, but pore size varies and nothing is guaranteed. The RO membrane is a physical absolute: if it's larger than 0.0001 microns, it doesn't pass. Viruses, bacteria, protozoa — all stopped at the membrane.
This matters most for tank water, bore water, and travel — but even on municipal water, it's the most thorough protection available without boiling.
Micron pore size
2,000× smaller than a typical bacterium
Bacteria removed
All 4 pathogens tested returned undetectable
Lab result
ND = Not Detected — the best possible outcome
Purified. Then perfected.
Water is forced through a membrane with pores so small, virtually nothing gets through except pure water molecules. Then we add the good stuff back. No plumber. No installation. No wastewater pump.
Non-Woven Fabric
Catches rust, sediment, and dirt — so the finer filters don't clog. The first line of defence.
Carbon Fibre
Activated carbon grabs chlorine and organic compounds. This is what makes your water stop smelling like a swimming pool.
Scale Inhibitor
Prevents mineral buildup inside the system. Protects the membrane from scaling damage so it runs efficiently for longer.
Second Fabric Layer
Catches any loose carbon particles. Keeps the flow clean before the membrane does the heavy lifting.
RO Membrane (0.0001 μm)
The core. Pores so small that bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, fluoride, PFAS — almost nothing gets through. 99%+ of contaminants stopped here.
Post Carbon Fibre
A final polish. Catches any remaining traces and improves taste and clarity before water reaches your glass.
Swedish Mineral Rock™
RO removes everything — including the good stuff. This proprietary remineralisation technology from Bluewater Group adds calcium, magnesium, and potassium back. Clean water that tastes the way great water should.
Adds minerals backRemoves the bad.
Adds back the good.
Standard RO systems strip everything — including the healthy minerals your body needs. Pure RO water tastes flat and is slightly acidic. The Tappwater RO Countertop is different.
Swedish Mineral Rock™ is a proprietary remineralisation technology from Sweden's Bluewater Group. As purified water passes through natural mineral rock, it absorbs calcium, magnesium, and potassium — the same minerals found in premium spring water.
Stages 1–6: Purification
Removes PFAS, chlorine, lead, bacteria, fluoride, and 80+ contaminants
Stage 7: Swedish Mineral Rock™
Adds calcium, magnesium, and potassium back — same electrolytes as mineral water
Pure + mineralised water
Hospital-grade purity. Balanced pH. Water that tastes the way great water should.
Every contaminant. Every number.
Every figure below comes from independent laboratory testing. Verified removal rates from Equinox Labs Pvt. Ltd. (April 2025) and Laboratorio Echevarne (February 2025) — not estimates, not marketing claims.
| Contaminant | Removal rate | Why it matters | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS & Chemicals | |||
PFAS (5 compounds) | 99% | Forever chemicals — cancer, immune disruption, hormone interference | PFAS |
Chlorine | >99.9% | Taste, odour, skin and gut irritation | Chemical |
Fluoride | >99% | Controversial additive — only RO removes it effectively | Chemical |
Nitrate | >99.9% | Agricultural runoff — especially harmful to infants | Chemical |
Sulphate | >99.9% | Taste, laxative effect at high levels | Chemical |
Turbidity | >99.9% | Cloudiness from sediment and particulate matter | Chemical |
Microplastics* | >99.9% | Endocrine disruptors found in all tap water | Chemical |
| Heavy Metals | |||
Lead | 100% | Neurotoxin — especially harmful to children. Undetectable after filtration. | |
Mercury | 100% | Nervous system damage, developmental harm. Undetectable after filtration. | |
Copper | 98.9% | Gastrointestinal issues, liver damage at high levels | |
Aluminium | 88.6% | Linked to neurological concerns | |
Arsenic | 84.2% | Carcinogen found in groundwater | |
Iron | 83.9% | Metallic taste, staining, GI issues | |
Nickel | 79.3% | Allergic reactions, skin sensitisation | |
Manganese | 79.3% | Neurological effects at high exposure | |
Barium | 76.6% | Cardiovascular and kidney effects | |
Cadmium | 74.2% | Kidney damage, bone demineralisation | |
Selenium | 63.2% | Hair loss, nail changes at high levels | |
Zinc | 63.5% | Nausea, metallic taste | |
| Pesticides | |||
Atrazine | >95% | Endocrine disruptor, common herbicide | Pesticide |
Delta HCH | >95% | Organochlorine insecticide residue | Pesticide |
Endrin | >95% | Banned pesticide, persistent in environment | Pesticide |
Butachlor | >95% | Herbicide found in agricultural runoff | Pesticide |
| Bacteria & Microorganisms | |||
E. coli | 100% | Causes severe gastrointestinal illness | Biological |
Coliform bacteria | 100% | Indicator of faecal contamination | Biological |
Clostridium perfringens | 100% | Causes food poisoning and gas gangrene | Biological |
Enterococcus faecalis | 100% | Antibiotic-resistant pathogen | Biological |
Two independent labs
Contaminant and heavy metal testing by Equinox Labs Pvt. Ltd. (April 2025). PFAS testing by Laboratorio Echevarne, Barcelona (February 2025).
Real-world conditions
Tested at both moderate (Level 1) and high (Level 2) contamination levels — simulating real municipal water supply, not lab-pure water that inflates results.
Transparent results
We publish our full lab reports. Download them, read them, share them. If other brands won't publish theirs — ask them why.
Built to standard. Independently certified.
Beyond lab testing, the RO Countertop meets international safety, material, and environmental standards.
CE Marked
Meets EU health and safety requirements
BPA Free
Verified to contain zero BPA
REACH Compliant
No chemicals on the SVHC restricted list
RoHS2 Compliant
No prohibited hazardous substances
Food Grade (FDA/EU)
Safe for contact with drinking water per EU Reg. 1935/2004
FCC Certified
Electromagnetic compatibility verified
EN 1208:2005
European standard for water treatment
Lead Free & Cruelty Free
Zero lead content, no animal testing
What "tested" actually means.
Most water filter brands claim their products are tested. Here's what that typically looks like — versus what we actually do.
| Tappwater RO | Most brands | |
|---|---|---|
| Independent lab testingThird-party verification, not self-tested | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lab reports publishedFull reports available for download | ✓ | ✗ |
| 80+ contaminants testedNSF/ANSI Standard 42, 53 & 401 equivalent | ✓ | ~ |
| Specific removal rates publishedExact percentages, not vague claims | ✓ | ✗ |
| PFAS independently tested5 compounds spiked above regulatory limits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fluoride removal lab verified>99% — reduced to below detectable limits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bacteria 100% removedE. coli, Coliform, Clostridium, Enterococcus | ✓ | ~ |
| Remineralisation after purificationSwedish Mineral Rock™ adds Mg, Ca, K back | ✓ | ✗ |
| No plumber requiredCountertop — plug in and filter | ✓ | ✗ |
Now you've seen the data.
99% PFAS. 100% lead, mercury, and bacteria. Over 99% fluoride. Independently verified. No asterisks. No fine print.
No plumber, no installation. RO purification with 6 temperature presets up to 95°C. Replaces your filter and your kettle.
Fits virtually any tap. Removes 98% chlorine, 93% PFAS, and >99% microplastics. 70% fluoride reduction.
Everything the Compact does, plus a 6th stage — Swedish Mineral Rock™ — that adds calcium, magnesium, and potassium back.