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
- Sign up to receive the latest InkWELS bulletin.
Why WELS?
Choosing more efficient products helps Australia save water.
By 2021 Australians could save more than $600 million 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 five per cent or 87,200 megalitres each year; and
- save about 610,000 megalitres (more water than in Sydney Harbour).
Nearly half the water savings will come from more efficient washing machines, about 25 per cent from showers and 22 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
WELS stakeholder forum
A WELS stakeholder forum was held in Canberra on 11 March 2008 to allow stakeholders to provide feedback on the scheme and the WELS team to update attendees on expansion of the scheme.
Summary of the outcomes from the stakeholder forum
New reports
- Analysis of Australian opportunities for more water-efficient toilets
- Labelling of the dryer component of washer - dryers
- Labelling for instantaneous gas water heaters
WELS Scheme expansion
Work is underway to expand the WELS Scheme to include new products and to introduce new minimum water efficiency standards (WES) for some products.
More information on the WELS Scheme expansion
New InkWELS bulletins.
Two new InkWELS bulletins are available, providing information about commonly asked registration questions and a reminder about the grace period ending 31 December 2007 for whitegoods
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