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Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards
(WELS) Scheme

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Frequently asked questions on the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme

What is the WELS Scheme?

The WELS Scheme requires certain water-using products to be labelled for water efficiency, helping Australian households to save water and money.

The scheme also allows industry to showcase its most water-efficient products.

The scheme was established on 1 July 2006 as a cooperative Commonwealth/state and territory regulatory system to help reduce domestic water consumption.

Under the scheme, product suppliers are required to provide water efficiency information, and star-ratings, to consumers for a range of products such as clothes washers, dishwashers, showers, taps, toilets, urinals and flow controllers. Industry must register these products with the WELS Regulator (the Secretary of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts).

The scheme is funded from industry registration fees and contributions from federal, state and territory governments and is administered by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

WELS has its own Act, The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 and is underpinned by its own Australian Standard, the AS/NZS 6400.

The WELS Scheme excludes second-hand products and products imported into Australia for personal use.

Who is the WELS Regulator?

The WELS Regulator is the Secretary of the Australian Government department responsible for administering the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 - the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

When did the scheme start?

The WELS Scheme started on 1 July 2006.

What products does the WELS Scheme cover?

Plumbing products

• showers
• tap equipment
• flow controllers (optional)

Sanitary ware

• toilet (lavatory) equipment
• urinal equipment

White goods

• clothes washers
• dishwashers

What does the WELS label mean?

The WELS water rating label provides water efficiency information for water-using household products. It is similar in appearance to the energy rating label  (which clothes washers and dishwashers must also carry).

The label carries two important pieces of information to help the consumer to compare products - stars and water consumption or water flow figures.

For better water efficiency - the more stars the better and the lower the number the better!

The label shows:

• a one to six star rating for a quick assessment of the model's water efficiency - the more stars on the label the more water efficient the product and
• a figure showing the per litre water consumption or water flow of the product based on laboratory tests.

How much water can I save?

Lots! By 2021 it is estimated that using water efficient products will help to:

• reduce domestic water use by five per cent or 87,200 megalitres each year and
• save about 610,000 megalitres (more water than in Sydney Harbour).

Your choice of product can make a difference:

• 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 whereas a standard dual flush toilet uses only a quarter of this-three litres on a half-flush and
• a standard showerhead may use up to 25 litres of water per minute whereas a water-efficient showerhead might use as little as seven litres per minute-less than a third!

How must WELS products be labelled?

The WELS Standard generally requires the following:

• the label or the details on the label, must appear in any product specifications such as brochures, magazines, advertisements, web sites etc promoting a registered product
• if the product is packaged, WELS labelling should appear on the package
• if the product is supplied without a package, the WELS labelling should be fixed to the product or have a double-sided swing tag attached to it and
• the WELS label may be reduced in size to suit a particular product but the minimum size is 28 mm deep by 18 mm wide.

What testing is done on WELS products?

The water ratings and consumption/flow figures are determined through laboratory testing.

Testing must be done:

• at laboratories accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)
• at a laboratory approved by the WELS Regulator or
• in accordance with the National Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Program.

Can I get a rebate on WELS products?

Rebates may be offered on some WELS rated products.

Local councils and water authorities may be offering rebates to people who buy WELS-registered products with specific star ratings. Go to 'Water Rebates' at smartwatermark.info to find your local water authority or council for rebate information or visit the greenplumbers website.

Why does the WELS Scheme include some products but not others?

The WELS Scheme is not designed to rate all water-efficient or water-saving products. It is a comparative labelling scheme for products that consume significant volumes of water. The seven WELS products contribute significantly to water use in Australian households. They were chosen after extensive national research and consultation.

In time, more products with the following characteristics could be added if:

• they contribute (or are projected to contribute) significantly to national fresh water and/or wastewater use either because there are a lot of them or individual units consume a lot of water
• the design of the product significantly determines its water use
• a standard test exists (or could be developed) relating to performance, water consumption and water flow rate to allow for compliance testing and/or
• the product is mass-produced (or assembled from mass-produced components), so that all items of a particular model have the same technical performance.

What happened to the voluntary 'AAAAA' water rating scheme?

The WELS Scheme has replaced the voluntary National Water Conservation Rating and Labelling Scheme (the 'AAAAA' Scheme).

What happens if products are not WELS registered or are incorrectly labelled?

This may be an offence under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (the Act).

The offences below are classified as strict liability offences. This means a supplier who commits an offence may be prosecuted for the offence regardless of whether or not it was intentional.

Registration	Section 33 of the Act	It is an offence to supply an unregistered product that is required to be registered under the WELS Standard.
Labelling	Section 34 of the Act	It is an offence to supply a registered WELS product without the correct labelling as required by the WELS Standard. Under the WELS Act all suppliers along the supply chain from manufacturer to retailer (including importers, wholesalers and leasing businesses) must make sure that the correct label is on the product and remains intact.
Minimum efficiency and performance requirements	Section 35 and 36 of the Act	It is an offence to supply a WELS product that does not comply with any registration, minimum water efficiency or minimum general performance requirements.
Misusing the WELS Standard	Section 37 and 38 of the Act	A person supplying a WELS product must not use the WELS Standard or information in a manner inconsistent with the Standard. This relates to labelling, packaging, documents or material provided in connection with the supply of the product, and advertising and promotion.

How is the scheme being enforced?

The WELS Regulator enforces the scheme, using a permanent team of inspectors.

Where necessary the WELS Regulator can take enforcement action to maintain the objectives of the scheme, the credibility of the WELS label or the integrity of the WELS Standard.

When a WELS business premises is open to the public, a WELS inspector can enter unannounced and:

• inspect and purchase WELS products
• inspect any advertising or other written documents
• discuss product features and
• observe practices relating to the supply of products within the public area of the premises.

In other areas of a WELS business premises, inspectors may, with the consent of the owner:

• search the premises and anything (including vehicles) on the premises
• conduct tests on the premises
• take photographs and make video/audio recordings
• inspect records (it is an offence not to supply records when asked by an inspector) and
• take extracts or make copies of records and use equipment as required on the premises.

In these circumstances an owner may refuse entry to a WELS inspector or withdraw consent for the inspector to proceed at any time. If entry is refused, the inspector may obtain a warrant to gain entry. An inspector may also seize evidence.

What are the penalties for not complying with WELS requirements?

If a person commits an offence under the WELS Act, the Regulator determines the consequences on a case-by-case basis in line with the compliance and enforcement policy of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. These might include educating the offender about his or her obligations or administrative action.

Legal measures open to the Regulator include:

• on-the-spot fines (infringement notice)
• court prosecution and
• applying to the Federal Court for an injunction to stop someone from committing the offence or to order the person to undertake a specific action (e.g. to remove a non-complying product).

When a conviction for an offence has occurred the Regulator may publicise that offence in any way he or she thinks appropriate.