TL;DR
A kitchen renovation is the ideal time to install an under-sink filter and three-way mixer tap. Puretec offers a wide range of dependable conventional filter-and-tap kits, while Zip makes polished three-way and premium boiling, chilled or sparkling systems. For families wanting more than ordinary filtration, AlkaWay’s UltraStream Twin Undersink paired with its WaterMark-certified three-way mixer is my preferred option. It keeps filtered water separate from hot and cold supplies while producing mineralised, alkaline, hydrogen-rich water without electricity. Check cupboard space, tap certification, cartridge cost, water pressure and plumber requirements before ordering, because reliability begins with choosing a compatible, complete system.
Plan the filter while you plan the kitchen
A renovation is the perfect time to install an under-sink water filter. The plumber is already involved, the benchtop has not been drilled and the cabinetmaker can allow room for cartridges, tubing and valves.
Many people choose a tap for its colour and leave filtration until last. That is how you acquire a beautiful sink—and a filter that will not fit beneath it.
Select the filter and tap as one system. Decide what you want removed and whether you want ordinary filtered water, boiling, sparkling, alkaline minerals or molecular hydrogen. Confirm compatibility before anybody drills the stone.
A dedicated filter tap or a three-way mixer?
There are two main layouts.
A dedicated filtered-water faucet sits beside the normal mixer. It gives the filter a purpose-designed outlet, but requires another hole and fitting on the sink or benchtop.
A three-way mixer delivers hot, cold and filtered water from one body. Better designs keep filtered water in a separate internal pathway, away from the unfiltered supply. The result is a cleaner-looking bench and one less tap to wipe around.
For most new kitchens, a compatible three-way mixer is the neater choice.
What makes an under-sink combination reliable?
Reliability is not just tap strength. Look for WaterMark-certified tapware, suitable pressure specifications, available replacement cartridges and clear instructions.
Check cartridge capacity and replacement intervals, remembering that incoming water and usage affect both. Heavy sediment can shorten filter life, so some homes benefit from a protective pre-filter.
Measure the cupboard’s height, width and depth. Leave room to remove a housing or twist out a cartridge. The plumber must be able to reach valves and connections after the bin, dishwasher hose and cleaning products move in.
Finally, confirm that filtered water follows a separate pathway inside the mixer instead of rejoining the ordinary supply.
Puretec: the broad conventional choice
Puretec offers a large selection of under-sink filter and tap kits. Its range includes single, twin and reverse-osmosis systems, plus Tripla and Tripla Elite three-way mixers.
The Z1 Tripla Elite kits combine a three-way mixer with an Ultra Z 0.1-micron filter. Puretec also offers simpler carbon-based systems for reducing chlorine, sediment, unpleasant taste and odour.
Renovators can match several tap finishes with different filtration levels. Cartridges and support are available through Australian plumbing and irrigation retailers.
The disadvantage is also choice: model numbers become confusing, and cartridges do not target identical substances. Ask what the exact kit reduces, its replacement cost and whether it suits your pressure.
Puretec is a reliable conventional option, particularly for someone who wants extensive tap styling and established plumbing-store distribution.
Zip: polished design and premium convenience
Zip Water offers a three-way ambient mixer combining unfiltered hot and cold water with separately filtered drinking water. Its stainless-steel model includes a 0.2-micron MicroPurity filter and carries a four-star WELS rating.
Zip becomes attractive when the brief includes instant boiling, chilled or sparkling water. Its premium ranges combine filtration with these features and national service support.
The trade-off is cost and complexity. Premium systems may require power, cupboard space, ventilation and servicing. They suit households that will use those features but can be excessive when the goal is simply excellent drinking water.
Zip is the polished premium choice. Make sure you are paying for functions the family will use, not an impressive gadget that mainly boils pasta water.
AlkaWay: my preferred water-quality choice
For renovators who care most about the quality and character of their drinking water, my preference is the UltraStream Twin Undersink paired with the AlkaWay three-way mixer tap.
The mixer supplies hot, cold and filtered water from one gooseneck tap. Its filtered channel remains separate from the mains-water pathway. It is lead-free, WaterMark certified and designed for professional installation.
Beneath the sink, the twin system provides filtration, alkaline minerals and molecular hydrogen without electricity. The filter set is designed for about 3,000 litres or 12 months under typical use, although actual life depends on source water and consumption.
Many under-sink systems simply reduce chlorine and improve taste. UltraStream is intended to reduce a broader range of unwanted substances while adding useful minerals and producing hydrogen-rich alkaline water.
AlkaWay has specialised in filtered, alkaline and hydrogen water for more than 26 years. Customers can obtain installation guidance and correct replacement sets from an Australian team that knows the product.
An important UltraStream compatibility warning
Do not connect the standard single-cartridge UltraStream Undersink directly to an ordinary three-way mixer. That model generates molecular hydrogen and requires AlkaWay’s dedicated vented faucet to release pressure safely.
If you want one mixer delivering hot, cold and filtered water, choose the UltraStream Twin Undersink with the compatible three-way tap. If you prefer the standard UltraStream cartridge, use the purpose-designed vented faucet supplied for that installation.
Confirm the exact UltraStream model with AlkaWay and give its installation instructions to your plumber before work begins. That is easier than correcting the wrong benchtop hole later.
My renovation checklist
Before ordering any filter-and-tap combination, confirm:
- What is in your source water and what you want reduced.
- Whether the tap and plumbing components are WaterMark certified.
- The required water pressure, flow rate and cupboard clearance.
- Whether filtered water follows a separate internal tap pathway.
- Cartridge life, replacement price and local availability.
- Whether the system needs power, ventilation, drainage or a storage tank.
- Who provides warranty help if the tap leaks or the filter flow slows.
- Whether professional installation is required or recommended.
The final verdict
Puretec is a dependable choice for conventional filtration and a wide selection of tap finishes. Zip is excellent for design-conscious renovators wanting premium boiling, chilled or sparkling functions.
For a family wanting a three-way mixer with filtered, mineralised, hydrogen-rich water, the AlkaWay UltraStream Twin Undersink is my first choice. It avoids electrical complexity, keeps the benchtop clear and comes with specialist support.
Choose early, show the specifications to your plumber and leave room for cartridge changes. Good planning can give your new kitchen something more valuable than fashionable handles: water your family enjoys drinking every day.