Abstract: A rainwater filter assembly (1) comprises a housing provided with an inlet (9) and an outlet (3), the inlet is adapted to receive rainwater discharging from a downpipe (10), and in use the assembly (1) is located in series with an underground pipework (27), the housing defines a silt collection chamber (7) in which silt can settle from water passing from the inlet to the outlet, the entrance (23) to the outlet from the silt collection chamber being located above the base of the silt collection chamber, and the housing containing or supporting at least one filter (9) adapted to filter coarser material than silt from the rainwater. Advantageously the filter assembly is capable of filtering coarse material from the water and provides a silt collection chamber so as to reduce the quantity of particulate material that passes to the pipework in the ground and to the soakaway normally connected to such pipework.