Water filter taps
Water filter taps connect to an in-line filtration cartridge so the water coming out of the tap has already passed through a filter, reducing chlorine taste, sediment, and other impurities before it reaches your glass. This range from Nero Tapware and Oliveri focuses on the filtration side of the equation, giving you a tap and filter combination built around water quality rather than just tap mechanics. If your main concern is better tasting, cleaner drinking water at the kitchen sink, this is the filtration technology to look at.
How the filtration works
A water filter tap draws mains water through a cartridge, usually mounted under the sink, before it reaches the spout. The cartridge is where the actual filtration happens, typically using activated carbon or a similar filtration media to reduce chlorine, sediment, and taste and odour issues common in mains tap water. Because the filter sits under the sink rather than inline with the whole house supply, only the water drawn through that specific tap is filtered, which keeps the system simple and contained to the kitchen.
Filter cartridge maintenance
Filter cartridges have a limited lifespan and need replacing periodically to keep filtering effectively, since a cartridge left in too long loses its ability to reduce chlorine and sediment. Replacement intervals depend on your water usage and the specific cartridge fitted, so checking the manufacturer's guidance for your Nero or Oliveri system is the best way to know when a replacement is due. Keeping up with cartridge changes is what actually delivers the water quality benefit, more than any feature of the tap itself.
Nero and Oliveri filtration options
Both Nero Tapware and Oliveri offer filtration systems designed to work with a matching tap, so the filter cartridge and spout are built to function together rather than as separate purchases. Oliveri, with its background in kitchen sinks and tapware, and Nero, known more broadly across bathroom and kitchen tapware, each bring their own tap styling to the filtration side, so you can choose based on the finish and design that suits your kitchen while still getting the filtration benefit.
Water quality considerations
The value of a filtered tap comes down to what is actually in your local mains water. Areas with stronger chlorine taste or higher sediment will generally notice more benefit from filtration than areas already served by cleaner mains supply. If taste and odour are the main concern rather than removing specific contaminants, a standard carbon filtration cartridge is usually sufficient, but it is worth checking the filtration specification against your household's needs before choosing a system.
Installation notes
Fitting a water filter tap generally means installing the cartridge housing under the sink and connecting it to the cold water line, then running a dedicated line up to the filtered tap outlet. This is usually done alongside a kitchen renovation or sink replacement, though it can also be retrofitted to an existing sink if there is enough space under the cabinet for the filter housing. A plumber can confirm whether your existing under sink plumbing has room for the cartridge before installation.
