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Most stormwater systems need space to work. This one had almost none.A recent Lower Hutt residential build presented one...
02/06/2026

Most stormwater systems need space to work. This one had almost none.

A recent Lower Hutt residential build presented one of the most constrained stormwater installations we have taken on. The architectural design by Parsonson Architects Ltd left limited space beneath the home and deck structure, with structural piles, tight invert levels, and existing pipework all competing for the same space.

The solution was a customised 5,250L Aquacomb detention system, made up of 15 x 300mm pods configured specifically around the site constraints. The modular nature of Aquacomb is exactly what made it possible. No two pods need to sit in a perfect grid, which means the system can work around what is already there.

Watersmart's design and commercial teams worked closely with Jason Brown Plumbing throughout, including multiple design revisions and site visits during construction. The result was a compliant, discreet stormwater detention system built to Wellington Water requirements, tucked completely out of sight beneath the home.

πŸ”—Read the full case study on our website

What would it look like if our cities absorbed rain instead of shedding it?That is the idea behind sponge city design, a...
27/05/2026

What would it look like if our cities absorbed rain instead of shedding it?

That is the idea behind sponge city design, and it is one of the most practical responses to the flooding and stormwater challenges Aotearoa is grappling with right now.

We are hosting a free evening session at the Watersmart Innovation Hub in Avondale on 17 June, in partnership with Engineering New Zealand. Drinks, nibbles, and a genuinely useful 90 minutes for anyone working in civil engineering, urban design, or local government.

Our speaker is Umar Farooq, PhD candidate at Massey University and Doctoral Scholarship recipient, whose research focuses specifically on advancing sponge city approaches for New Zealand cities. He will be covering:
βœ… Why conventional pipe and convey stormwater systems are under increasing strain
βœ… How catchment-based design can reduce flooding, runoff, and water quality issues
βœ… The role permeable surfacing plays in restoring natural water cycles
βœ… Practical ways to integrate water-sensitive design into real projects and policy

There will be a Q&A at the end, so come with questions!
Free to attend but spaces are limit so make sure you register via the Engineering NZ website.

"

The concrete has been poured. Now is not the time to find out the stormwater system was not installed correctly.With new...
26/05/2026

The concrete has been poured. Now is not the time to find out the stormwater system was not installed correctly.

With new self-certification requirements coming in across the building sector, who installs your stormwater system matters more than ever. A problem under a slab is not something you can inspect, access, or fix without significant cost and disruption once the build is complete.

Aquacomb is only installed by trained, approved installers. Watersmart is deliberate about who makes that list. The programme is selective, the training is thorough, and the number of approved installers is intentionally kept small. Not as a limitation, but as a quality standard.

Specifying Aquacomb means the system goes in right, first time, every time. That is a risk taken completely off the table before the build even begins.

Talk to the Watersmart team about certified installation on your next project.
πŸ“ž 0800 110 808
πŸ”— watersmart.co.nz

The best product demonstrations happen in real life, not on a spec sheet. Last week, 28 members of Auckland Council's ce...
24/05/2026

The best product demonstrations happen in real life, not on a spec sheet. Last week, 28 members of Auckland Council's central Code Compliance team visited the Watersmart Innovation Hub to see for themselves.

A big thank you to everyone who made the trip out. It was a genuinely productive afternoon and exactly the kind of conversation we love having at the Hub.

Here is what we covered:
βœ… Factory and onsite testing processes for Aquacomb and above-ground tanks
βœ… How we manage approved installers and our documentation process
βœ… The PS3 process and how to streamline it
βœ… Annual pump servicing and the importance of staying on top of it
βœ… The ease of maintenance and use of leaf diverters
βœ… A live Porous Lane demonstration at our main entrance
βœ… Porous Lane compliance credentials and University of Melbourne testing
βœ… Longevity, ease of maintenance, and applications across New Zealand

If your team would like to visit the Innovation Hub and see these systems working in real time, we would love to have you.

πŸ“ž 0800 110 808
πŸ”— www.watersmart.co.nz

Our Freshwater 2026 paints a clear picture of a resource under pressure. Hydraloop exists for exactly this moment, recov...
19/05/2026

Our Freshwater 2026 paints a clear picture of a resource under pressure. Hydraloop exists for exactly this moment, recovering water from showers and baths and putting it straight back to work.

Released by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ, the report confirms that in 2023 and 2024, residential and rural users consumed an estimated 685 million cubic metres of water for household use alone. That demand is only growing, on a resource the report confirms is under increasing pressure from abstraction, climate change, and contamination.

Hydraloop, available exclusively through Watersmart in New Zealand, treats water from showers and baths for reuse in toilet flushing and laundry, using six innovative technologies with no chemicals and minimal maintenance. That is up to 45% savings on water consumption and wastewater, from within the building itself.

When paired with a rainwater harvesting system, the savings compound further. Less demand on the mains supply. Less pressure on the municipal system. A more resilient home or building when restrictions arise.

Freshwater is a taonga. We now have the technology to use it twice.

Explore Hydraloop at www.watersmart.co.nz/hydraloop or call us on 0800 110 808. πŸ’§

Your fence is doing one job. FenceTank does two.At just 410mm deep, FenceTank is one of the narrowest above-ground rainw...
18/05/2026

Your fence is doing one job. FenceTank does two.

At just 410mm deep, FenceTank is one of the narrowest above-ground rainwater tanks available in New Zealand. It sits flush against the fence line, stores 1,000 litres per unit, and as you can see here, five tanks joined together deliver 5,000 litres of on-site water storage without sacrificing a single square metre of usable space.

For those working with high-density or tight urban sites, that is the difference between a stormwater solution that works with your design and one that fights it.

βœ… 410mm depth fits flush to any fence line
βœ… 1,000L per unit, fully modular and scalable
βœ… No concrete base required on good ground
βœ… Food-grade, UV-resistant Rotathene tank grade plastic
βœ… 10 year warranty
βœ… Colours matched to the COLOURSTEEL range

πŸ”—Find out more at watersmart.co.nz/fencetank or get in touch with the team. πŸ’§

Not all stormwater systems are created equal, and when it comes to building compliance, the difference matters.Aquacomb ...
13/05/2026

Not all stormwater systems are created equal, and when it comes to building compliance, the difference matters.

Aquacomb is BRANZ appraised, giving specifiers greater confidence that the system has been independently assessed for use within the New Zealand building environment.

When specifying stormwater detention infrastructure, independent verification matters. Especially when performance, durability, and consenting confidence are critical to project delivery.

Specify with confidence. Talk to the Watersmart team to learn more about Aquacomb. πŸ’§

Get in touch:
[email protected]
πŸ“ž 0800 11 08 08

12/05/2026

What if the biggest stormwater solution was already under your feet? πŸ‘€
Every road, carpark and footpath that sheds water instead of absorbing it adds to the problem. Porous Lane does the opposite.

Made from up to 60% recycled tyre rubber. 8 to 10 times more permeable than standard permeable concrete. 25 year design life. 12 colours. And it diverts up to 3 tyres from landfill per square metre.

Already installed across Auckland Transport's Eastern Busway, Mayoral Drive, Blair Park, Auckland Botanic Gardens and private driveways across the country.

Full video on YouTube, link in bio. πŸ’§

Day one at Stormwater2026 and the stand has been busy from the moment the doors opened πŸ‘‹It has been great connecting wit...
12/05/2026

Day one at Stormwater2026 and the stand has been busy from the moment the doors opened πŸ‘‹

It has been great connecting with so many of you already. The conversations keep coming back to the same thing: how do we solve tomorrow's water challenges today? That is exactly why we are here.

Come find us at the expo and see Aquacomb, FenceTank, SlimCity, Porous Lane, Floody and FloodFree up close. The team is on hand to talk through whatever you are working on, whether that is a single site or a large scale development.

See you on the stand!

Last Thursday we opened the doors of the Watersmart Innovation Hub to a brilliant group of architects from Te Kāhui Whai...
05/05/2026

Last Thursday we opened the doors of the Watersmart Innovation Hub to a brilliant group of architects from Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects, and what a turnout!

It was a great evening. Architects got to see real systems working in real time - rainwater harvesting, water recycling, stormwater detention, filtration and monitoring, all live within our own building in Avondale.

Not on a spec sheet. Not in a brochure. Actually running.

The conversation that kept coming up was exactly the one we'd hoped for - how do these systems integrate early in design, rather than getting bolted on at consent stage? As Auckland intensifies and stormwater constraints tighten under PC 120, that question matters more than ever.

Thanks to everyone who joined us. If you missed this one and want to see the Hub for yourself, get in touch.

Address

74 Patiki Road, Avondale
Auckland
1026

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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