Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme
Certain plumbing products and white goods are regulated under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme.
Regulated products include showers, dishwashers, washing machines, toilets and urinals, taps and flow controllers. The products are tested for water consumption and given a rating of up to six stars.
It is a legal requirement that these products are labelled with water-rating information that includes how much water the product will use per minute, per flush or per load.
How to read the label
At the top of the water-rating label, the star rating shows the water efficiency of the product. Labels for different categories of products differ slightly but all show two key pieces of information:
- The WELS star rating – the stars indicate water efficiency: the more stars, the greater the water efficiency
- The water consumption or flow figures –– either the average water consumption per use (dishwashers, washing machines, toilets, urinals) or the average water flow per minute (taps, showers, flow controllers).
More information
To learn more about the water-rating system and to search for products, visit waterrating.gov.au.
Note: some council development control plans specify water-efficient fixtures in new developments and renovations. Get in touch with your local council to check its requirements.
