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 transition dates
From 1 July 2006, the WELS Scheme became mandatory. Grace periods apply to WELS products imported or manufactured before 1 July 2006.
For these products:
- Unlabelled tap ware, showers, lavatory and urinal equipment may be retailed only until 31 December 2006.
- Unlabelled dishwashing and clothes washing machines may be sold from manufacture/import right through to retail 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 the Environment and Heritage 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 located within the Department of the Environment and Heritage and monitors and enforces the Scheme. The Regulator is committed to ensuring the integrity and credibility of the WELS Scheme including the requirements imposed by the legislation and standards.
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
WELS compliance risk management documents are a resource to help you improve your compliance with the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (the WELS Act). These guiding documents are updated regularly. We welcome feedback as part of our continual improvement practices.
Whilst we do not provide industry with legal advice, this guidance will help you develop practices and systems for managing compliance risk under the WELS Act. This guidance draws upon information collected as part of WELS intelligence activities and industry best practice.
WELS will be enforced taking into account the circumstances of each case. The WELS Advisory Team will help you comply through administrative and educative solutions. In doing this the WELS Regulator will:
- maintain the capacity to take enforcement action where necessary, and
- not compromise the objectives of the Scheme or the credibility of the label, or the standard
Registered products database
Find the water consumption and star ratings details for a range of products that carry a water rating label. Search the registered products database
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