How to Install a Greywater System with WaterMate
Installing a greywater system might sound like a big job, but with WaterMate, we’ve kept it simple. Whether you live in an ordinary home on mains, a rural house on tanks, or have an off-grid setup with a bore and septic tank, the unit is designed to connect directly to the pipes you already have. From tiny homes to country villas, you’re only a few steps away from making every drop matter.
What Size System and Where to Place It
WaterMate comes in two sizes. The standard WaterMate is suited to smaller homes, tiny homes, or tank-dependent setups with one shower and a washing machine. The large WaterMate is best for bigger households with a higher greywater output, or where there is more than one bathroom.
When it comes to location, the unit can be placed above ground, partially buried, or even fully buried up to 400 mm, as long as the lid remains accessible for cleaning. Most homeowners choose an outdoor spot near the pipes that link to their showers, basins, and laundry.
One of the most common questions we get about installation is whether you need consent. The good news is, when you’re using greywater for garden irrigation, there’s no special consent needed, as under most councils, it’s a permitted activity. You’re always best to check your local council’s website for details, but so far, we’ve not heard of any that required consent.
Step 1: Connect Your Household Pipes
The first step in getting your system set up is to divert the greywater pipes into the WaterMate inlet. Remember, toilets should never be included, and you can only connect your kitchen sink or dishwasher if you’ve included a grease trap in your system. It’s simple enough to do yourself if you’re pretty handy with DIY, but if you’re not, call a local licensed plumber, and they can do it for you.
In fact, our system is designed with plumbing best practice in mind, so you can be confident that your pipes will keep flowing, no matter what. Our system comes with a built-in overflow, so if the filters are struggling or the unit is full, water just flows into the existing gully trap or septic tank. Now that’s Kiwi ingenuity.
Step 2: Filters, Maintenance, and Safety
Inside the WaterMate are layers of filter mats which catch particles of different sizes. Together, they remove hair, lint, and soap residue, leaving water clean enough to irrigate your garden. Like anything, the performance is only as good as the filters, so we recommend maintaining yours regularly.
Every few months, lift the lid, pull the mats out, and give them a good blast with a garden hose. Replacement mats are available, but most households find that with regular washing, they last for ages.
Step 3: Irrigation Setup
Filtered greywater is safe for irrigation, but not consumption, which is why it shouldn’t be used to water your fruit or veggie garden. It’s also why it should be used with a drip irrigation system rather than sprinklers. WaterMate works with a dripper line designed for greywater, which prevents clogs that can occur with regular irrigation lines.
Whether you choose a gravity-fed or pump-assisted system depends on your garden’s layout, but both are simple to set up.
Want the whole kit and kaboodle? Our Total Greywater Recycling Package includes the regular-sized WaterMate, our 75l Grease Trap, and our Irrigation Kit with 100m of greywater drip line.
Ready to Install Your WaterMate?
With easy installation, low-maintenance filters, and a simple irrigation setup, WaterMate makes your water work twice as hard. It keeps your garden green, saves you money, and helps your household run more self-sufficiently, a small change that makes a big difference over time.
WaterMate is proudly supported and distributed by Allflow, New Zealand’s trusted expert in pumps, filtration, and water management for more than 30 years.