Zenith Water

What Zenith Water does

Zenith Water (legal entity Zenith Heaters Limited) is a New Zealand–based manufacturer and distributor of instant drinking water systems, best known for its flagship HydroTap product line, which delivers filtered boiling, chilled, sparkling, hot, and cold water from a single under-bench tap. The company has operated since 1947 (originally founded in Sydney, Australia) and has been a subsidiary of Culligan International Group since August 2017, when Quadrant Private Equity and founder Michael Crouch sold their shareholdings. Zenith serves both residential customers (homeowners installing premium kitchen water systems) and commercial customers across office, healthcare, education, government, hospitality, retail, sports, and industrial segments via a multi-channel model combining 200+ retail showrooms and resellers, direct website sales, an Approved Installer Program of certified plumbers, and an enterprise field sales / specifier engagement program targeting architects and engineers with BIM files and CPD seminars.

The company's product portfolio centres on the HydroTap family across multiple generations (current flagship G5) and design variants (Classic Plus, Arc Plus, Cube Plus, Celsius Plus, Micro, UltraCare, Industrial, Touch-Free Wave), complemented by HydroChill high-capacity dispensers, on-wall boiling systems (Hydroboil Plus, Autoboil, Econoboil), instantaneous electric hot water heaters, touch-free washroom solutions, and consumables. Core technology is proprietary MicroPurity 0.2-micron 8-in-1 filtration (NSF 53 and NSF 42 certified, WaterMark accredited), R290 refrigerant-based air-cooling delivering 95% GWP reduction, UV-C LED disinfection in ChillFountain units, and WiFi-connected Zip Assist for multi-site monitoring. Zenith was first in Australasia to obtain an independently verified Environmental Product Declaration and the HydroTap range is Green Star compliant.

Zenith generates revenue through a mix of hardware sales, recurring HydroCare subscription service plans (Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum billed annually in advance), multi-year interest-free rental agreements (3–6 years), consumables (proprietary filter cartridges and CO2 canisters), certified installation services, and commercial service fees. Operations are supported by a national fleet of 65+ factory-trained service technicians targeting 72-hour onsite response and 9+ first-time fix rates, with customer satisfaction rated 8+ out of 10 in NPS data from June 2024 to July 2025. The legal headcount figure is 13 (likely core staff), with the broader service and reseller network materially larger.

Name

Zenith Water

Legal name

Zenith Heaters Limited

Website

https://zenithwater.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Zenith Water is a New Zealand manufacturer and distributor of instant drinking water systems, best known for its HydroTap line of filtered boiling, chilled, and sparkling taps, serving residential customers and commercial sectors (office, healthcare, education, government, hospitality) via 200+ showrooms and a 65+ technician service network as a subsidiary of Culligan International.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Filtration and Dispensing Systems

NAICS

Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914), Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) Merchant Wholesalers (42372)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Under-Sink Water Filtration Systems (CRAJAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whole-House (Point-of-Entry) Water Treatment Systems (CRAJAJAE), Hydronic/Baseboard Radiant Heating Service (HSAOACAE)

Keywords

• Water filtration systems
• Instant boiling taps
• Drinking water dispensers
• Water purification equipment
• Commercial water systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - HydroTap Systems: Sale of under-bench water dispensing systems including HydroTap G5, Classic Plus, Arc Plus, Cube Plus, Celsius Plus, Micro, and accessories. Products sold through retail showrooms, resellers, and direct website purchases.
2. HydroCare Service Plans: Annual service plans (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) providing scheduled filter replacements, maintenance, repairs, parts and labour. Billing in advance with fixed annual rates.
3. Rental Plans: Interest-free rental agreements over 3, 4, 5, or 6 years with quarterly payments. Includes new equipment, installation, maintenance, and Zip Assist connectivity. 100% tax deductible with no depreciation.
4. Consumables - Filters and CO2: Replacement filter cartridges (MicroPurity 93701, 93702, 93703, 93706) and CO2 canisters (1.2kg residential, 2.6kg commercial). Commercial canisters refillable at gas refill locations.
5. Installation Services: Certified installation service by factory-trained technicians including commissioning and sanitisation. Available within 50km of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
6. On-Wall Boiling Water Systems: Sale of Hydroboil Plus, Autoboil, and Econoboil instant boiling water systems for commercial kitchens, canteens, and high-demand settings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zenith Water designs, manufactures and supplies under-bench instant drinking water systems (the flagship HydroTap range) that deliver boiling, chilled, sparkling, hot and cold filtered water from a single tap, complemented by on-wall boiling units, chilled water dispensers, instantaneous hot water heaters, touch-free washroom products, water filters and CO2 consumables. The company also delivers HydroCare annual service plans, multi-year interest-free rental agreements, certified installation services and an Approved Installer certification program for plumbers.

Product overview

Zenith Water is a manufacturer of instant drinking water systems, primarily known for its HydroTap product line. The core offering consists of under-bench filtered water systems that provide boiling, chilled, and sparkling water at the touch of a button. The HydroTap family includes multiple generations (G5 being the latest), various designs (Classic Plus, Arc Plus, Cube Plus), and specialized variants (UltraCare for healthcare, Touch-Free Wave for contactless operation, Industrial for demanding environments, and Micro for compact spaces). Complementary products include HydroChill high-capacity dispensers, On-Wall boiling systems (Hydroboil Plus, Autoboil, Econoboil), Instantaneous Electric Hot Water heaters (M, C, D Series, Tudor), chilled water dispensers (ChillMaster, EconoMaster, Chill Fountain), and Touch-Free washroom solutions (AquaSense taps, FlushMaster). The company also offers consumables (water filters, CO2 cartridges), spare parts, and service plans (HydroCare Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum). Key technologies include MicroPurity 0.2-micron filtration certified to NSF 53 and 42 standards, and wifi-connected Zip Assist monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Approved Installer Program Certification program for plumbing businesses providing product training, technical updates and certification to install Zenith HydroTap residential and commercial products (sold via third-party installers, not as a paid offering by Zenith).
• HydroTap (G5 range — Classic Plus, Arc Plus, Cube Plus, Elite Plus) Fifth-generation air-cooled under-bench filtered instant drinking water system delivering boiling, chilled and sparkling water from a single tap outlet, with proprietary MicroPurity 0.2-micron 8-in-1 filtration and R290 eco-friendly refrigerant. Configurable in Classic Plus, Arc Plus (curved spout), Cube Plus (square spout) and Elite Plus designs for residential and commercial kitchens.
• Celsius Plus All-In-One Range All-In-One residential tap delivering instant filtered boiling, chilled and sparkling water together with unfiltered hot and cold water for washing up, featuring a retractable pull-out sprayer. Won the 2017 Good Design Award accolade (All-In-One Arc).
• HydroTap UltraCare Multi-barrier drinking water system for healthcare and aged care facilities providing specialised protection against waterborne bacteria and viruses, with 99.9% reduction in Legionella via carbon-free sub-micron (0.2-micron) filters and enHealth guideline compliance.
• HydroTap Touch-Free Wave 100% contactless drinking water solution using smart infrared sensor technology for hygienic hands-free operation of HydroTap systems in hygiene-sensitive commercial environments.
• HydroTap Industrial Vandal-resistant, heavy-duty HydroTap models for factories, warehouses and high-security institutional environments requiring durable, energy-efficient boiling, chilled and sparkling water delivery in demanding conditions.
• Zenith Micro Smallest HydroTap variant designed to fit under almost any bench while delivering perfectly boiling and chilled water; ideal for small workplaces with up to 10 people. Won the Good Design Award Gold Accolade.
• HydroChill High-capacity filtered drinking water system delivering 80–90 litres per hour of chilled, ambient or sparkling water with MicroPurity filtration, for corporate offices, hospitality venues and high-traffic commercial environments.
• Chill Fountain Wall-mounted bubbler and bottle-filling dispenser with hands-free operation, UV-C LED disinfection (activates during bottle fill and cycles every 10 minutes at idle) and MicroPurity filtration; available in single or double configurations.
• ChillMaster Freestanding stainless-steel chilled water dispenser with bubbler and carafe filling, built-in pressure limiting valve, dual check valves and LED filter-change reminder; designed for demanding commercial use.
• EconoMaster Cost-effective freestanding chilled water unit in a durable white powder-coated case, available in 12 or 28 litres per hour capacity, for factories, work sites and site sheds.
• On-Wall Boiling Water Systems (Hydroboil Plus, Autoboil, Econoboil) Range of on-wall instant boiling water systems for busy workplaces and commercial kitchens: Hydroboil Plus (safety/durability/simplicity), Autoboil (thermostatic temperature control, two-way tap, stainless steel boiling chamber) and Econoboil (budget unit for site sheds and short-term tenancies).
• Instantaneous Electric Hot Water Heaters (IEHW M, C, D Series) IEHW range for commercial hot water delivery: M Series (low-flow single point hand wash, 35/38/45°C settings), C Series (medium flow multi-point bathroom and kitchen, 20–50°C with 60°C models), D Series (high flow multi-point bathroom/kitchen/laundry, 20–50°C with 60°C models).
• Tudor Hot Water Heater Over-sink or under-sink storage hot water heater with full external temperature control from 30 to 80°C, available in 5 or 10 litre storage sizes; six-star WELS rating for water efficiency.
• AquaSense Touch-Free Taps Sensor-led infrared touch-free washroom taps with six-star WELS water efficiency rating, designed for public-use commercial washrooms.
• FlushMaster Solo Touch-free automatic urinal flushing system for urinals and troughs, delivering hygienic automatic flushing in commercial washrooms.
• ChillTap Zenith Water chilled water tap product line for residential and commercial applications (extracted from shop/category listing).
• Water Filter Cartridges and CO2 Canisters Replacement MicroPurity filter cartridges (models 93701, 93702, 93703, 93706) compatible with HydroTap G5, and CO2 canisters (1.2kg residential, 2.6kg commercial, refillable at gas refill locations).
• Spare Parts Genuine Zenith spare parts for all products including command centres, taps and fonts.
• Touch-Free Adaptor Accessory that retrofits Autoboil and Econoboil on-wall boiling units with touch-free sensor operation, minimising cross-contamination in commercial washrooms and kitchens.
• HydroCare Service Plans (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) Annual subscription service plans providing scheduled filter and CO2 replacements, maintenance, repairs, parts and labour. Tiered as Bronze (filter only), Silver (maintenance only), Gold (maintenance and filter) and Platinum (total cover with up to 10 CO2 replacements per annum). Billed in advance at fixed annual rates.
• Rental Plans (3, 4, 5 or 6 years) Interest-free multi-year rental agreements with quarterly payments; include new equipment, certified installation, ongoing maintenance and Zip Assist connectivity. 100% tax deductible, no depreciation. Customers can upgrade, keep or return at end of term.
• Certified Installation Service Professional installation by factory-trained technicians, including commissioning and sanitisation. Available within 50km of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs. Commercial call-out fees $99 plus labour at $46 per 15 minutes with 30% after-hours surcharge.
• Zip Assist Connectivity WiFi-connected monitoring service for HydroTap systems, enabling multi-site synchronisation, usage pattern monitoring, improved service level delivery and energy-efficiency optimisation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% fewer emissions than kettles over a year
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Edge EnvironmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop environmental impact calculator for HydroTap products. Edge Environment conducted independent-expert reviewed, ISO 14040-44 conforming Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of award-winning HydroTap products.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zip Water: Australian sister brand under the same Culligan International Group / Zip Water parent, offering HydroTap and instant boiling/chilled/sparkling water systems in Australia. Operates the same core product line as Zenith Water in the trans-Tasman market, making it the closest functional peer.
• Billi: Australian manufacturer of premium under-bench instant boiling, chilled and sparkling water systems for residential and commercial use. Direct head-to-head competitor to HydroTap in the AU/NZ instant water tap category with overlapping product capabilities and target markets.
• Quooker: Dutch inventor and leading European manufacturer of instant boiling water taps with combi (boiling + chilled + sparkling) variants. Directly competes with Zenith in the premium instant water tap category via global distribution and similar under-bench product architecture.
• Grohe (Grohe Blue): Grohe Blue is Grohe's premium under-sink filtered chilled and sparkling water system for residential kitchens. Comparable offering to HydroTap with similar target customer (premium residential and light commercial) and overlap on filtration, chilling and carbonation.
• Waterlogic: Global manufacturer of commercial point-of-use water dispensers (chilled, hot, sparkling) and now part of the Culligan International family. Competes with Zenith HydroChill and commercial HydroTap products in office, education and hospitality segments.

Broad incumbents

• BRITA: Global leader in consumer water filtration (pitchers, under-sink, built-in) owned by Brita SE. Overlaps with Zenith's residential MicroPurity under-sink filtration and water taste/purification value proposition at mass-market scale.
• Culligan International: Parent company of Zenith Water and a global leader in residential, commercial and industrial water treatment. Operates broader water softening, filtration and treatment offerings that overlap with Zenith's filtration and commercial water dispensing categories.
• EcoWater Systems: US-anchored residential water treatment brand (water softening, filtration, reverse osmosis) with established dealer network. Comparable in residential water treatment category though oriented to point-of-entry whole-house systems rather than under-bench taps.

Others

• BWT (Best Water Technology): European water technology group providing filtration, softening and point-of-use drinking water systems for residential, hospitality and industrial markets. Overlaps with Zenith's commercial hospitality and hospitality filtration value proposition with a broader B2B and supplier footprint.

Emerging players

• Coway: South Korean home wellness appliance leader with water purifier and instant hot/cold water dispenser product lines expanding internationally. Comparable in residential point-of-use drinking water category, especially in APAC markets where Zenith could expand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zenithwater_
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZenithWater
• Instagraminstagram.com/zenithwater_

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zenith Water