Jayce Love tests every recommended product personally — with calibrated instruments, no gifted units, and no brand payments. See our testing process →
8 min read
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Bottom Line Up Front
The EcoHero 5-Stage is the most complete under-sink RO system available in Australia. WaterMark certified (AS3497), NSF 58 membrane, 50% water recovery efficiency, and a remineraliser that puts minerals back after filtration. After 12 months daily use in Palm Beach QLD — 69 ppm tap water down to 3 ppm post-filter — it works exactly as specified. If you own your home and want comprehensive filtration, this is the benchmark.
Activated carbon filters handle chlorine, taste, and odour. They don’t touch fluoride. RO does — 0.0001 micron filtration removing bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, PFAS, fluoride, and virtually anything dissolved in the water. The EcoHero stood out for WaterMark certification to AS3497, NSF 58 certified membrane with independently verified figures, and the EcoHero-50 membrane’s 50% water recovery rate.
Adds Ca, Mg, K — raises pH, makes water taste good
NSF/ANSI 58 Certified Results
Independently verified — not manufacturer claims.
93.6%
Fluoride
98.6%
Lead
99.1%
Cadmium
90.8%
TDS
99.1%
Turbidity
96.4%
Chromium
The EcoHero 5-Stage RO installed under the kitchen sink at Palm Beach QLD — Jayce Love first-hand installation photo, March 2026.
Real-World TDS Results: Palm Beach Tap vs EcoHero RO Output
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is the most direct proxy measurement for how much dissolved material your water contains. A TDS&EC meter measures electrical conductivity and converts it to a ppm (parts per million) figure. It doesn’t distinguish between beneficial minerals and contaminants — but it does give you a fast, repeatable before/after number that shows whether a filter is actually doing something.
I tested Palm Beach mains water and EcoHero post-filter output using a calibrated TDS&EC meter. Both samples were at 30.0°C. Results below are what the meter read, not manufacturer claims.
69 ppm
Palm Beach Mains Tap Water
Unfiltered · 30.0°C
3 ppm
EcoHero RO Output
Post-filter · 30.0°C
95.7% TDS reduction. From 69 ppm down to 3 ppm. The EcoHero membrane is spec’d at 90.8% TDS removal under NSF 58 test conditions — real-world performance here exceeded that. Palm Beach water sits well within the ADWG acceptable range, which means this system will perform at least as well on harder supplies like those in western Sydney or parts of Melbourne where TDS regularly runs above 200 ppm.
Testing methodology: Both samples drawn from the same tap run within 2 minutes of each other. Meter calibrated to manufacturer spec before testing. Glass rinsed between tests. Three readings taken for each sample — the displayed value is the stable hold reading.
Note: TDS measurement is a conductivity proxy, not a contaminant-specific test. A 3 ppm reading does not mean the water contains only 3 mg/L of any specific substance — it means dissolved ionic content has dropped to near-zero. Fluoride, heavy metal, and pathogen removal requires independent lab testing to confirm specific figures, which the EcoHero NSF 58 certification provides.
Our Top-Rated Water Filters
Reverse osmosis is the only residential technology that reliably removes PFAS, fluoride, chloramine, and heavy metals — the four contaminants most Australians are most exposed to.
Installation took a plumber about two hours — everything was in the box. The remineraliser is what makes this usable long-term. Standard RO is flat and tasteless. With calcium, magnesium and potassium added back, the water actually tastes good. Flow rate fills a glass in a few seconds, a litre in 20-25 seconds. Zero issues, no leaks, cartridge monitor flags when filters are due. I haven’t had to think about it.
The dedicated EcoHero 5 RO faucet at the Palm Beach QLD kitchen — filling a glass takes about 5 seconds. Jayce Love, May 2026.
What I Like
WaterMark AS3497 certified — legal compliance with Australian plumbing standards. 50% membrane efficiency — 1L waste per 1L filtered vs 3-4L on older systems. Leak protection included — isolates water supply if leak detected. Australian supplier — 1300 808 966, local serviceable areas.
What Could Be Better
Installation extra — plumber adds $200-400, total installed $1,400-1,700. Tank limits burst use — 12-13L usable, refills over a few minutes under heavy demand. Bench hole required — stone benches need a pro, rentals not viable.
How It Compares
Option
Fluoride
PFAS
Install
Cost AUD
EcoHero 5-Stage ★
93.6%
✓
Plumber
~$1,400-1,700
Waterdrop Countertop RO
~90%
✓
DIY
~$400-500
Clearly Filtered Pitcher
~98%
Partial
None
~$150
Carbon benchtop
✗
Partial
DIY
~$100-300
Final Verdict
A year in and nothing has gone wrong, the water tastes good, and everything I wanted removed is gone. Factor in the plumber and you’re looking at $1,400-1,700 all up. For a system you’ll use multiple times daily for the next decade, the cost-per-litre is negligible. If you own your home and clean water is a priority, this is the right call.
The EcoHero dedicated RO faucet (right, shorter tap) alongside the main mixer at Palm Beach QLD — the under-sink unit is completely out of sight.
The EcoHero 5-Stage is the benchmark under-sink RO system for Australian homes.
WaterMark AS3497 certified. NSF 58 membrane removes fluoride (93.6%), lead (98.6%), PFAS, and TDS (90.8%). 50% water recovery. Remineraliser included. 12 months of real-world use at Palm Beach QLD confirms the specs.
Yes — 93.6% via NSF 58 certified membrane, near-zero ppm after deionising cartridge.
Do I need a plumber?
Yes — mandatory under warranty and Australian Standards. Budget $200-400 on top of supply price.
Can renters install it?
No — requires permanent bench hole and under-sink plumbing. Countertop RO is the alternative.
Does it remove PFAS?
RO is one of the most effective residential methods for PFAS reduction. Yes.
What is the EcoHero-50 membrane?
Pure Water Systems’ proprietary 50% water recovery RO membrane — 1L waste per 1L filtered vs 3-4L on older systems.
How much does it cost to service the EcoHero 5-Stage?
My first full filter service — all cartridges replaced, including the RO membrane — came to $490 all up, including labour. Pure Water Systems arranged the technician, so I didn’t have to source anyone myself. The process was direct: I called them, they booked a local plumber, the plumber arrived with all the cartridges and did the full replacement in under an hour. No sourcing parts, no guessing which cartridges to order. That’s the way to do it — the annual cost of ownership on a system like this is the filter replacement, and knowing it’s $490 fully managed makes it easy to budget for.
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Written by Jayce Love
Former Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diver and TAG-E counter-terrorism operator. Founded Clean and Native to apply the same rigorous thinking to the home environment.
Melbourne has the cleanest tap water of any Australian capital — hardness 18mg/L, PFAS non-detect, mainly free chlorine. What still makes sense to filter and city-specific product picks.
