About the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme
What is WELS?
WELS is Australia's water efficiency labelling Scheme that requires certain products to be registered and labelled with their water efficiency in accordance with the standard set under the national Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005.
The WELS Scheme excludes second-hand products and products imported into Australia for personal use.
What are the WELS products?
The water-using WELS products are:
- showers
- tap equipment
- flow controllers (optional)
Sanitary ware
White goods
It will be voluntary to label flow controllers, and a minimum efficiency standard will also apply to toilets. This means you cannot supply toilets that have a higher flow rate than 5.5 litres per average flush volume.
Waterless urinals are not currently included under WELS.
Key dates
From 1 July 2006, the WELS Scheme became mandatory. Grace periods applied to WELS products imported or manufactured before 1 July 2006.
For these products: unlabelled tap ware, showers, lavatory and urinal equipment may be retailed until 31 December 2006 and unlabelled dishwashing and clothes washing machines were allowed to be sold from manufacture/import until 31 December 2007.
All new products — that is, where the product has been manufactured or imported into Australia on or after 1 July 2006 — must now be registered and labelled before they can be sold.
WELS label
The WELS water rating label is similar in appearance to the energy rating label (which clothes washing machines and dishwashers must also carry). The WELS label replaces the voluntary water conservation rating 'AAAAA' label endorsed by the Water Services Association of Australia.
The WELS water rating label provides water efficiency information for water-using products. It allows consumers to compare products and rewards manufacturers and retailers who make and stock water efficient models.
The label shows:
- A zero to six star rating that allows a quick comparative assessment of the products's water efficiency. The more stars on the label the more water efficient the product.
- A figure showing the water consumption flow of the product based on laboratory tests.
Information about the WELS label is available to help manufacturers, importers, retailers and wholesalers prepare their labels.
Rebates
Rebates may be offered on some WELS rated products - please contact your local water authority or council for information. WELS does not rebate products covered under the WELS Scheme, but only rates them for water efficiency.
Legislation
The Australian Government's Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (The WELS Act) , provides the legal framework for the WELS Scheme. The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Regulations 2005 , the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Determination 2007 and the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Declaration 2005 are also part of the WELS legislative framework.
In summary the Australian Government’s WELS legislation covers:
- The establishment of the WELS Regulator to administer the Scheme.
- Authority for the Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to specify the products to be covered by the WELS Scheme, the standards they must meet and other requirements.
- Requirements for the registration and labelling of WELS products, including setting the fee to register a product
- Monitoring and enforcement measures, including the appointment of WELS inspectors.
- Procedures for issuing and paying penalty infringement notices as an alternative to prosecution for offences.
The states and territories have also enacted or agreed to enact complementary legislation so there is national coverage for WELS, as follows:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
The WELS Standard
The standard that sets out the criteria for rating the water efficiency and/or performance of each WELS product type is the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS6400:2005 Water-efficient products—Rating and labelling. This standard is the basis for the star ratings and water consumption and flow displayed on the WELS label.
This standard can be purchased from Standards Australia .
WELS Regulator
The WELS Regulator is established under the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme Act 2005 (the WELS Act) and is the Secretary of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the department). The WELS Regulator is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the WELS Scheme and is committed to ensuring the integrity and credibility of the WELS Scheme. The WELS team is located within the Environment Quality Division of the department.
The Regulator has a wide range of powers and resources to make WELS work, including:
- Tasking inspectors to monitor compliance and/or investigate alleged breaches of the WELS Act.
- Imposing significant fines and penalties for breaches of the WELS Act.
- Compelling the withdrawal of a product from the market.
- Deregistering a product.
- Advertising convictions.
The Regulator has the option to use administrative actions and education, as an alternative to legal action, to help manufacturers, importers and retailers to meet their legal obligations under the WELS Act. Where a cooperative solution is not possible, the Regulator can act to impose penalties and enforcement provisions outlined in Part 7 of the WELS Act.
Complying with WELS
To date, WELS Scheme compliance and enforcement activities have focussed on educating industry about its legal obligations under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (WELS Act).
Today, compliance activities are underway with investigators in the field Australia-wide and non-compliances against the WELS Act are being assessed and appropriate action taken.
All non-compliances with the WELS Scheme, including allegations, are assessed in accordance with the Compliance Enforcement Policy of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
WELS has a range of compliance reponses at its disposal which escalate according to the severity of the non-compliance, or if non-compliant activity continues.
Generally, education and/or warnings are used in response to first and less serious non-compliances. This ensures that suspected offencers become aware of legislative requirements.
For serious or continuing non-compliances, enforcement powers under the WELS Act may be used.
For more information see Compliance and enforcement.
Registered products database
Find the water consumption and star ratings details for a range of products that carry a water rating label.
Search the Registration and Product search database
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