Short answer: it depends where you fill up.
Tap into town water only? A good filter on its own will do. Drawing from tanks, bores or creeks? You want both. Here's the difference in plain terms, so you can decide without overspending — or risking a crook gut miles from anywhere.
A filter and a steriliser do two different jobs
This is where people trip up. They're not the same thing, and one doesn't replace the other.
A water filter deals with the stuff in your water — sediment, dirt, rust, chlorine, chemicals and taste. A UV steriliser deals with what's living in your water — bacteria and viruses. A filter won't kill bugs. A steriliser won't clear sediment or chemicals. Run both and you've got the lot covered.
What the filter does
The Pro Flow 12 is a carbon filter. It strips out sediment, rust, chlorine and chemicals down to 0.5 micron — and it reduces PFAS, the “forever chemicals” turning up in tap water across Australia. Water comes out clear and tastes like it should.
It flows at 12 L/min, so you won't cop a pressure drop in the shower, and it fits inline with standard fittings — no plumber needed. Swap the cartridge every 8–12 months and you're set.
What the steriliser does
The UV-C steriliser kills what the filter can't — bacteria and viruses. It's been independently lab-tested to knock out 99.99% of E. coli. No chemicals, no taste, just UV light doing the work. Runs on 12V with a 10,000-hour LED, so there's nothing to refill or replace.
This is the bit that matters when your water's been sitting in a tank, or came from a bore or a creek.
So — do you need both?
Match it to where your water comes from:
- Town / mains water only. It's already treated. The Pro Flow 12 cleans up taste, chlorine and any PFAS, and that's plenty.
- Tanks, bores, creeks, dodgy remote taps. Now you're dealing with bugs the filter can't touch. Run the filter and the steriliser.
If you free-camp, tour remote, or top up from wherever you can, lean towards both. It's cheap insurance against a ruined trip.
Run them in the right order
Filter first, steriliser second. The filter clears the water so the UV light can actually reach the bugs — UV can't punch through cloudy, sediment-heavy water. Clean, then zap. That order matters.
The easy way to do it
Rather not piece it together? The Caravan Water System Kit pairs the Pro Flow 12 and the UV-C steriliser in one go — full two-stage protection, filtration plus sterilisation, ready to fit.
Quick pick
| Where you fill up | What you need |
|---|---|
| Town / mains water only | Water filter (Pro Flow 12) |
| Tanks, bores, creeks, remote taps | Filter + UV steriliser |
| Mixed — you tour everywhere | Filter + UV steriliser (the bundle) |
Sorting your water setup? Start with where you fill up, then match it to the table. See the full caravan water range.
FAQs
What are PFAS, and should I worry?
PFAS are man-made “forever chemicals” showing up in tap water across Australia at trace levels. Carbon filters — like the one in the Pro Flow 12 — are proven to remove them from drinking water.
Will a filter slow my water pressure?
No. The Pro Flow 12 holds full pressure — you won't notice it in the shower or at the tap.
Can I fit it myself?
Yes. Both fit inline with standard fittings — no plumber, no electrician. The steriliser runs off 12V.
Do I still need to boil water?
The filter clears sediment and chemicals, and the UV-C steriliser is lab-tested to kill 99.99% of E. coli — so together they cover both particles and bugs. If you're ever unsure about a really dodgy source, boiling is still the failsafe.