At its core, Water Wally is about making a positive contribution to the one and only planet we have. Our particular patch of expertise? Sustainable wastewater management.
Founded by environmental engineer Anthony “Smitho” Smith, Water Wally brings together hands-on experience, technical knowledge and a passion for helping people understand their options.
From backyards to BHP, we’ve worked with homeowners, tourism operators, community organisations and mining companies to find practical ways to manage wastewater. Our work takes us from suburban gardens to remote, off-grid locations, helping people conserve water, reduce waste and make better use of the resources they have.
Composting toilets, greywater recycling, septic systems, natural treatment processes—there are plenty of possibilities. We help make sense of them, matching solutions to the people who use them and the places they need to work.
We’re here to simplify things.
Through practical advice, assessments, design and education, we help individuals and organisations manage wastewater safely and responsibly, with an understanding of how their systems work.
We consider the whole picture: the site, the soil, the people, the approvals and what it will take to keep a system working over the long term. We have a particular interest in natural and passive approaches, and in turning waste into a resource wherever practical.
Often, the simplest and least expensive solutions are also the most practical and sustainable ones.
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After completing a degree in Environmental Engineering, Anthony travelled around Australia, living and working on remote, self-sufficient properties. Water was often in short supply, and composting toilets and greywater reuse were part of everyday life.
Those experiences stuck. A waterwise landscaping business followed, then a growing interest in what happened to water after it went down the drain. That eventually became Water Wally.
Over the past 15-plus years, Anthony has helped hundreds of homeowners, tourism operators, businesses and community organisations work through their wastewater needs. His projects have ranged from tiny homes and eco-accommodation to remote installations in the Kimberley and Pilbara.
He’s been involved in assessing sites and soils, designing systems, navigating approvals, installing equipment and keeping it working. That practical experience shapes his advice: a system needs to suit the site and be manageable for the people looking after it.
Anthony enjoys sharing what he’s learned. He’s spoken to thousands of people at Tiny Homes Expo and Off Grid Living events, presented to community and industry groups, and contributed to podcasts and publications. He is an Industry Advisor on Wastewater for the Australian Tiny House Association and authored its Wastewater for Tiny Homes Guidelines.
Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn →
Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn
Smitho has shared his knowledge through podcasts, magazine articles and interviews, bringing practical advice and a bit of humour to all things wastewater, off-grid living and sustainability.
Have a listen or a read of a few examples below.
Pip Magazine — Meet Smitho A profile of Anthony and his time at Wollangarra, bringing together off-grid living, conservation and outdoor education.
Read the profile →
ABC News — Composting toilets at home Smitho talks about why more homeowners are choosing composting toilets and how they work.
Read the article → · Watch the video →
Renew Magazine — Going waterless: The composting toilet An introduction to composting toilets, with examples—including Anthony’s own setup—and a guide to the available options.
Read in Renew Issue 135 — magazine pages 62–64 (PDF) →
Pip Magazine — Reducing Water Waste An article by Smitho on putting household greywater to use in the garden.
Read the article →
Pip Magazine — Wheelie-Bin Compost Toilet Smitho explains a practical approach to composting toilets using wheelie bins.
Good Life Growing — Our waterwise garden Our garden features in Hannah Moloney’s book Good Life Growing, showing how water conservation can be part of a productive home garden.
Find out about the book →
Beau Miles — A moment 29 years ago changed everything Beau returns to Wollangarra, where Smitho takes him on a tour—and heads out for a run. A glimpse of the place, its people and life off-grid.
Watch the film →
Water Wally on YouTube More from Smitho on wastewater, composting toilets, greywater and how it all works.
Explore the Water Wally videos →
All the Dirt — Wastewater Management with Anthony Smith A conversation about sustainable wastewater management, greywater reuse and waterless composting toilets.
Find the episode in the November 2022 archive →
Tiny House Conversations — Composting Toilets & Greywater Systems An introduction to choosing a composting toilet, managing greywater, ventilation and navigating the grey areas around approvals.
Listen to episode 15 →
Tiny House Conversations — Choosing the Right Toilet & Greywater System for You Smitho returns for a deeper discussion about matching your wastewater setup to your tiny home, site and circumstances.
Listen to episode 65 →
Wastewater might not sound like a crowd favourite, but Smitho enjoys getting people talking about the things we usually flush away.
He’s presented at Tiny Homes Expos, off-grid living festivals, the AWA International Wastewater Conference, permaculture design courses and community events.
From composting toilets and greywater recycling to septic systems and off-grid setups, Smitho explains how low-tech wastewater solutions work in language people can understand. His talks draw on hands-on experience, with plenty of practical examples and time for questions.
The aim is simple: take some of the mystery out of wastewater and make sustainable solutions accessible to everyone.
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