Dubbo tap water making you itchy? Here’s what’s (most likely) going on

Q: Is a mineral causing the itchiness?

Sometimes hardness minerals can contribute to dryness and soap residue, but itchiness is often due to skin barrier irritation plus disinfectants, shower temperature, and skin products.

Q: Why would it get worse over just a few weeks?

Quick increases are often a combination of seasonal dryness, hot showers, network maintenance (like pipe flushing), treatment adjustments, or source water changes. Check local provider updates if it feels sudden and widespread.

Q: Will drinking spring water fix dermatitis?

Drinking water supports hydration, but dermatitis is usually a skin barrier issue that needs skin-focused steps (gentle cleansing, moisturising, avoiding irritants) and medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen.

Q: Is all bottled water basically the same?

Not always. Bottled water can come from different sources with different mineral profiles. Spring water typically reflects its natural source; check source information and typical analysis when comparing.

Q: What’s the easiest do-something-now option?

Shorter and less hot showers, moisturising immediately after, and switching to a gentle low-fragrance cleanser are common quick wins for itchy or dry skin after showering.

Q: Do you deliver to my town?

See Summer Springs delivery areas on the website or call 1300 654 001 to confirm your location and schedule.

If your skin has felt itchier, drier, or more irritated lately after showering or washing your hands in Dubbo - you’re not crazy, and you’re not alone.

We've had lots of people recently ask us if we know why and if there is anything we can help with.

Unfortunately, drinking more water won’t necessarily fix it. Hydration helps your body, but itchy skin is usually a skin barrier + irritant exposure issue (especially if you’ve got dermatitis/eczema tendencies).

The quick answer (most common culprits):

Disinfectants (chlorine/chloramine) can dry or irritate sensitive skin.
Water hardness (calcium/magnesium) can increase soap residue and dryness.
pH shifts, seasonal changes, pipe flushing, or treatment adjustments can make symptoms feel “sudden”.

1) Why drinking more water doesn’t fix itchy skin

This one trips people up. Being dehydrated can make you feel ordinary — headaches, fatigue, dry mouth — but itchy skin after showering is often about what’s happening on the surface of the skin: your skin barrier, temperature, soaps, and what your skin is exposed to.

If your tap water has more disinfectant than usual, or your skin is reacting to hardness + soap residue, you can feel worse even if you’re drinking plenty of water.

2) What in tap water can cause itching or dryness?

A) Chlorine / disinfectant levels

Most town water uses disinfectants to keep water safe. That’s good for public health — but for people with sensitive skin, disinfectants can sometimes feel drying or irritating.

If you want a reference point: Dubbo Regional Council publishes typical values for Dubbo water including chlorine and other quality measures. (They list a typical chlorine value and a maximum guideline.)

B) Water hardness (calcium & magnesium)

“Hard” water isn’t “dirty” water — it just has more dissolved minerals (often calcium carbonate equivalents). What hard water can do is:

make soaps/cleansers rinse off less cleanly,
leave more residue on the skin, and
increase that tight, dry feeling after showering.

C) pH + seasonal factors

Skin is fussy. Hot showers + dry air + harsher soaps + small shifts in water profile can combine into “why is my skin suddenly awful?” season.

3) Why it can get worse over the last few weeks

When itchiness ramps up quickly across a bunch of people, the “why” is often a stack of small changes rather than one single villain mineral. Common real-world reasons include:

Seasonal heat and lower humidity → more skin dryness.
Water treatment adjustments (e.g., taste/odour events, operational changes).
Pipe flushing / maintenance → temporary changes to taste/smell/feel.
Source water changes after heavy rain, drought conditions, or operational switching.

Practical tip: If it feels sudden, check your local water provider updates and ask whether there have been any recent treatment or network changes. That one step can save you weeks of guessing.

4) What you can do today (practical steps)

Step 1: Change the shower behaviour (fast win)

Keep showers a bit shorter and less roasting-hot (heat strips oils fast).
Use a gentle, low-foam cleanser (avoid heavy fragrance if dermatitis is flaring).
Moisturise immediately after (within 3 minutes) while skin is still slightly damp.

Step 2: Reduce irritants where you can

Try switching to a sensitive-skin laundry detergent (this is a big one people miss).
Wear gloves for cleaning/washing up.

Step 3: Consider filtration (depending on your goal)

If your main issue is taste/smell for drinking water, or you want a simple “set and forget” solution for a home/office kitchen — a benchtop filtration system can be a practical option.

Summer Springs option: Benchtop Water Filtration System (Monthly Hire) is $55/month. It’s designed as a simple monthly hire solution.

If your symptoms are persistent or severe

If you’ve got eczema/dermatitis, cracked skin, weeping, swelling, or symptoms that aren’t settling — it’s worth chatting with a GP or dermatologist. This article is general info, not medical advice.

5) Summer Springs options (for taste + convenience)

If your main problem is that your tap water has been tasting rough lately (or you’re sick of buying supermarket bottles), Summer Springs is built around one simple idea: spring water delivered reliably across regional NSW.

We supply 15L returnable spring water bottles (minimum order is 4 bottles) and we deliver on routes across the region.

Spring Water (15L Returnable) from just $15.00 per bottle with free delivery.
We also have regional pricing information for certain locations .
You can see all towns we service here: Delivery Areas.

Want a simple “starter pack”?

Need help fast? Call 1300 654 001 or use the contact page.

“Nothing added” — what we mean

Summer Springs describes its spring water as “raw” water — nothing added — and provides storage guidance accordingly (e.g., keep bottles out of direct sunlight). If you’ve ever wondered why our storage advice is so specific, that’s why.

You can also see typical mineral values listed directly on the 15L product page for different depot regions (e.g., sodium and calcium values vary slightly by source).

FAQ (myth-busting)

Is a mineral causing the itchiness?

Sometimes minerals (hardness) contribute to dryness and soap residue — but “itchy” is often more about skin barrier irritation plus disinfectants, temperature, and products used on skin.

Why would it get worse over just a few weeks?

Often it’s a combination of season + treatment/network changes + more hot showers. If it’s widespread, check your local provider’s updates.

Will drinking spring water fix dermatitis?

Drinking good water supports hydration — but dermatitis usually needs a skin-focused plan (gentle cleansing, moisturising, avoiding irritants, and medical advice if needed).

Is all bottled water basically the same?

Not always. “Bottled water” can include different sources and profiles. Spring water typically has a natural mineral profile that depends on the source. If you’re comparing, look for source info and typical analysis.