Mei Tanaka
Water Infrastructure Analyst
Mei Tanaka is a civil engineer and water infrastructure analyst who previously worked at SA Water and Melbourne Water. She specialises in comparative water quality analysis and water treatment system performance across Australian states.
Credentials
- ✓ BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering, University of Adelaide
- ✓ Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), Engineers Australia
- ✓ Former Senior Analyst, SA Water
Areas of Expertise
Mei Tanaka brings hands-on water industry experience to WaterScore. After graduating with First Class Honours in Civil Engineering from the University of Adelaide, she spent four years at SA Water before moving to Melbourne Water, giving her a unique perspective on how different Australian cities manage their water supply.
At WaterScore, Mei leads our comparative analyses and utility performance assessments. Her insider knowledge of how water utilities collect and report data ensures our suburb-level scores are as accurate as possible.
Mei lives in Adelaide with her family and is an advocate for water literacy education in schools.
Articles by Mei Tanaka
Best Water Filter Jug Australia (2026)
Best water filter jug Australia 2026: 18 jugs checked against certifier listings, matched to your city's water, with what each one costs a year to run.
Dishwasher Salt in Australia: Do You Actually Need It?
Dishwasher salt in Australia: most dishwashers we checked have no softener, and most suburbs have water soft enough to skip it. Check your machine and suburb.
Best Under-Sink Water Filter Australia (2026)
Best under-sink water filter Australia 2026: WaterMark-certified picks matched to your city's water, what each is certified to remove and the yearly cost.
Best Benchtop Water Filter Australia (2026)
Best benchtop water filter Australia 2026: certified picks that need no plumber, from countertop RO to dispensers, matched to your city's water and budget.
Money Can't Buy Better Tap Water: Rich vs Poor Suburbs
Do Australia's richest suburbs get better tap water? We compared 2,217 suburbs by household income. The richest fifth scored 9.47 out of 10, the poorest 9.44.
How Often to Descale a Coffee Machine in Australia
How often to descale a coffee machine depends on your water. See hardness for each Australian city, Breville, De'Longhi and Nespresso settings, and steps.
Best Shower Filter Australia (2026): What Works by City
Best shower filter Australia guide: which filters remove chlorine in your city, why none fix chloramine or hard water, and the three picks worth buying.
Water Hardness on the Sunshine Coast: Area-by-Area Data
Sunshine Coast water hardness averages 58.6 mg/L, from 48 at Landers Shute to 88 at Image Flat. See which suburbs get which water and what it means at home.
Water Filter Deals Australia: Black Friday and Prime Day
Water filter deals in Australia: when Prime Big Deal Days, Black Friday and Boxing Day cut prices on jugs, cartridges and reverse osmosis, and what to buy.
Water Hardness in Launceston: Suburb-by-Suburb Data
Launceston water hardness is soft everywhere, but Lake Trevallyn suburbs run 43 to 64 mg/L against 25 to 35 on the North Esk. See every zone and what it means.
Brita Water Filter at Coles: Which Jug and Cartridge to Buy
Brita water filters at Coles explained: which Marella jug and Maxtra Pro cartridge to buy, what they remove, cost per litre, and the cities they suit.
Water Hardness on the Gold Coast: Suburb-by-Suburb Data
Gold Coast water hardness is soft at 35 to 45 mg/L across 124 suburbs, rising to 66 to 90 mg/L in the Logan-fed north. See every zone, why it is soft, and what it means at home.
Northern Territory Water Hardness: Darwin vs Alice Springs
Northern Territory water hardness runs from 0.5 mg/L on the Tiwi Islands to 860 mg/L in the outback. Darwin averages 35 mg/L, Alice Springs 240. Every centre's data.
Best Water Filter for Renters in Australia (No Plumbing)
Best water filter for renters in Australia: jug, tap-mounted, benchtop and gravity options with no plumber or landlord consent, matched to your city's water.
Water Filter Melbourne: Do You Need One and Which Is Best?
Do you need a water filter in Melbourne? We break down hardness by zone, chlorine vs chloramine suburbs, and the best water filter for Melbourne tap water.
Does Canberra Have Hard Water?
No — Canberra has soft tap water at 36-39 mg/L across all four Icon Water supply zones. See suburb-by-suburb hardness data and what it means.
Does Hobart Have Hard Water?
No — Hobart has very soft tap water at just 17-46 mg/L across Greater Hobart. See how hardness varies by suburb, why it's so soft, and what it means.
Water Filter Sydney: Do You Need One and Which Is Best?
Looking for a water filter in Sydney? We break down what's actually in your tap water, chloramine vs chlorine zones, and the best filter for your suburb.
Does Melbourne Have Hard Water?
No — Melbourne has some of Australia's softest tap water at just 15-29 mg/L. See how hardness varies by suburb and utility, and what it means for your home.
Brisbane vs Melbourne Water Hardness Compared
Brisbane's water is over 4x harder than Melbourne's at 81 mg/L vs 18 mg/L. See zone-by-zone data, practical impacts and filter advice for both cities.
Water Hardness in Perth: Suburb-by-Suburb Data
Perth water hardness ranges from 29 to 228 mg/L across 28 supply localities. See data for every area, plus why northern suburbs are so much harder.
Water Hardness in Melbourne: Suburb-by-Suburb Data
Melbourne water hardness runs 8 to 108 mg/L — soft in the east, moderately hard in the north-west. Check the figure for your suburb and supply zone.
Brisbane vs Sydney Water Quality Compared
How does Brisbane tap water compare to Sydney? We compare hardness, taste, fluoride, chlorine vs chloramine treatment, and safety using real utility data from Seqwater and Sydney Water.
Moving to Melbourne? Is the Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Is tap water safe to drink in Melbourne? Yes. What new residents should know about Melbourne's water companies, soft water, fluoride, chlorine and filters.
Best and Worst Water Quality Suburbs in Australia (2026)
Best water quality suburbs in Australia, ranked on measured data from 8,400 suburbs. See the highest and lowest scorers, state averages and your suburb.
Adelaide vs Melbourne Water Quality Compared
How does Adelaide tap water compare to Melbourne? We compare hardness, taste, fluoride, and safety using real utility data from SA Water and Melbourne Water.
Best Water Filter Australia (2026): Top Picks for Tap Water
Best water filter Australia 2026: seven ranked picks for chlorine taste, hard water, PFAS and renters, matched to real suburb data from Australian utilities.
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Melbourne? (2026)
Is tap water safe to drink in Melbourne? We analyse actual water quality data from three retail water companies covering fluoride, chlorine, hardness, and contaminants across Melbourne's supply zones.
Why Adelaide Has Australia's Hardest Water
Adelaide hard water explained: why the Murray River gives Adelaide 87-136 mg/L hardness, how it compares to other capitals, and what you can do about it.
Hard Water vs Soft Water: What's the Difference?
Hard water vs soft water explained for Australians. See how hardness varies by city and suburb, its effects on your home, and what you can do about it.