Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme
Water shortages and the longer-term security of water supply are serious concerns for Australia. The WELS Scheme labels a range of products for water efficiency, helping Australian households to save water and money.
This site contains information about WELS for:
- Australians wanting to buy water efficient products
- manufacturers and importers
- retailers and wholesalers
- plumbers and builders
- architects and specifiers
- local government
- Sign up to receive the latest InkWELS bulletin.
Why WELS?
Choosing more efficient products helps Australia save water.
When WELS began in 2005, projections were made on the reduction in the demand for water and energy to the year 2021. Since then, a more recent study has been completed (in 2008) which shows even greater savings than the 2005 projections. By 2021, Australians could save more than one billion dollars through reduced water and energy bills by simply choosing more efficient products.
By 2021 it is estimated that using water efficient products will help to:
- reduce domestic water use by more than 100,000 megalitres each year;
- save more than 800,000 megalitres (more water than Sydney Harbour); and
- reduce total greenhouse gas output by 400,000 tonnes each year - equivalent to taking 90,000 cars off the road each year.
Nearly half the water savings will come from more efficient washing machines, about 32 per cent from showers and 21 per cent from toilets.
By choosing to use more water-efficient products in the home, Australians will save water and reduce their water and energy bills.
Did you know?
- A water-efficient washing machine may use only one-third the water of an inefficient model.
- An old-style single-flush toilet could use up to 12 litres of water per flush, while a standard dual flush toilet uses just a quarter of this on a half-flush.
- A standard showerhead may use up to 25 litres of water per minute whereas water-efficient showerhead might use as little as seven litres per minute, which is less than a third.
What's new
Read the WELS scheme supply chain scoping and compliance report.
Read the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Minimum Water Efficiency Standards for Clothes Washers and Water Efficiency Labelling for Combined Washer-Dryers, and the decision of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council in relation to this.
Independent review of the WELS scheme
The final report was provided by the independent reviewer to the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts on 30 June 2010. Public submissions to the review can be viewed on the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website .