Hydraloop Case Study: Whitford, Auckland
Client: Vivek Anturkar
Location: Whitford, Auckland
Product: Hydraloop
Overview
When Vivek Anturkar, Owner and Director of Space Designers, began designing his new Auckland home, water security was front of mind. The property was off grid and relied entirely on harvested rainwater. While tank storage provided independence, it also created a clear vulnerability. During extended dry periods, every litre matters.
Rather than simply increasing storage capacity, Vivek wanted to rethink how water could be used more intelligently. Having heard about Hydraloop and its ability to recycle greywater within the home, he engaged Watersmart early in the design stage to explore how the technology could be integrated seamlessly into the build.
From the outset, the focus was resilience. Shower and bath water make up a significant portion of daily household use, yet this water typically goes straight to waste. By capturing and treating this greywater through Hydraloop, it can be safely reused for toilet flushing, laundry and outdoor taps. This significantly reduces demand on stored rainwater and strengthens overall water security. By recycling water on site, the system also reduces the volume of wastewater discharged from the property, easing pressure on, and potentially reducing the size, of on-site treatment or disposal systems.
Because we were involved early, we were able to model projected water savings and review the resource consent and building consent plans to determine the best system location. The home is single level, which required careful planning of pipework layout and system configuration. We provided recycle ready schematics and worked closely with the owner, project manager and plumber throughout construction to ensure the integration was considered and practical.
Once installed, the Hydraloop system was commissioned and connected to cloud based monitoring software, enabling real time performance data and reporting. We completed hands on training with Vivek and set up the Hydraloop app on his phone, giving him full visibility of how the system operates.
The result is a home that is significantly more water resilient. By recycling shower and bath water, the property is expected to reduce total household water use by approximately 30 percent. For an off-grid residence, that reduction directly improves drought security, reduces reliance on tanker deliveries and provides greater long term confidence in the water supply.
This project shows what is possible when innovative water technology is considered early in the design process. Through strong collaboration and clear alignment from the beginning, Hydraloop was integrated as part of the overall water strategy rather than added as an afterthought. For off grid homes in particular, greywater recycling is not just a sustainability feature. It is a practical solution that protects supply while maintaining modern living standards.
