5 Dec 2025
On Wednesday 26 November, Watersmart opened its new water innovation hub in Auckland, providing the ability for engineers and specifiers to come and check out the latest in stormwater management, water recycling and treatment, and flood mitigation solutions.
The hub was incorporated into Watersmart’s new premises at 20 Saunders Place in Avondale, following the need to move the business to a larger building. The team felt it was great opportunity to incorporate the solutions they sell to their customers.
Room view
Elliot Olsen, Watersmart’s Co-founder, says that it is not only important for people to view the products but real-time working versions of them, which is why they are connected to Watersmart’s own operation.
We can talk with engineers about how great our solutions are, but we wanted people to see them all working in person. So we have integrated our products and technology into our own building to show their practical application and how they help achieve significant water savings.
What's in the hub?
There are a range of products on display both inside and outside the hub.
Indoors, a Hydraloop unit recycles shower, handbasin, and washing machine water. Having been hygienically cleaned through the system, the water can then be used for flushing toilets and cleaning clothes.
To measure how much water they are saving, Watersmart use a solution called Flowgen. This not only measures and manages water consumption, but the system will send an instant alert if it detects any leaks, enabling the team to take remedial action.
Flowgen
Outside the front door you will notice the beautifully designed permeable paving called Porous Lane.
Made from 60% recycled tyres, it is both aesthetically pleasing and a more sustainable option to traditional asphalt and concrete. The combination of materials used enables water to absorb through the surface, therefore reducing the chance of flooding. The water is filtered as it goes through, removing pollutants, and making it better for surrounding vegetation and stormwater systems.
Porous Lane
Also within the outdoor area is a range of tanks to harvest rainwater. This includes a SLIM CITY urban water tank and a FenceTank system, which looks like a fence but cleverly captures water inside it. A WaterSAFE system then treats the water for potable consumption.
FenceTank
“We are really excited to share these leading innovations in our hub”, says Elliot. “We know that engineers are practical people who like to see and understand how things work, so this is the perfect opportunity to come along and have a look.”
Engineering New Zealand members welcome
Engineering New Zealand members are welcome to visit the hub either individually or with a group of colleagues. Simply call 0800 110 808 or email hello@watersmart.co.nz to make an appointment.
This article was supplied by Watersmart, one of our partners. While we are pleased to share insights from our partners, Engineering New Zealand does not verify all claims and does not endorse specific products or services.
