Aquacomb x Hydraloop Case Study: Fletcher Living’s LowCO Pilot Home

Partnering for a Low Carbon Future — Fletcher Living’s LowCO Pilot Home

In 2023, Watersmart partnered with Fletcher Living on their pioneering LowCO Pilot Home — a bold step toward lowering the carbon footprint of new builds in Aotearoa. Now, nearly a year later, the results are in — and they show just how powerful water innovation can be in supporting more sustainable homes.

Smart Design, Real Impact

The LowCO home was designed to be a model for low-carbon residential living. Fletcher Living brought together a team of suppliers and partners — including Watersmart — to help reduce emissions, water use, and overall environmental impact, without compromising on comfort or function.

Watersmart supplied and installed two key technologies:

• Hydraloop: a compact, award-winning greywater recycling system that recycles up to 500 litres per day of shower and bath water for reuse in toilet flushing, laundry, and irrigation.

• Aquacomb: an innovative stormwater retention and reuse system integrated beneath the home, delivering 11,550 litres of reuse water over the year.

Together, these systems contributed to 80% savings in potable water use, with rainwater, greywater, and stormwater being intelligently reused throughout the homelowco facts.

Supporting Sustainable Choices

The water source breakdown over the peak summer period (Dec–Mar) tells the story:

• 69% of water came from rain

• 28% from recycled greywater

• Just 2% from the street mains supply

Water was then used efficiently across the home:

• 44% for cold water use

• 27% for hot water

• 14% for toilet flushing and irrigation

• 14% for washing machine use

These results show how on-site water systems can shift homes toward near self-sufficiency, reducing demand on municipal supply and creating resilient, low-impact housinglowco facts.

A Shared Vision

This project was supported by Watercare and represents a shared commitment across sectors to innovate for a more sustainable Aotearoa. For Watersmart, it’s another step in our mission to pioneer smart water solutions that make a difference at both household and national scale.

“We believe smart water systems should be standard in every new home. Projects like this prove it’s not only possible — it’s already happening.”
— Andrew Olsen, Watersmart Director

As Fletcher Living continues to expand its LowCO programme, Watersmart is proud to be part of the journey — helping design the homes of the future, today.