Publications on the Water Rating website include policy documents, reports on product research, and outcomes of five-yearly reviews of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme.
Read these publications to better understand the purpose and activities of the WELS scheme, and how we evaluate our effectiveness.
Browse our publications
Browse our list of all publications on the Water Rating website. Ordered by date of publication, starting at most recent.
Compliance and Enforcement Strategy
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, 2017
Developed in consultation with industry, the Compliance and Enforcement Strategy details areas of focus for the period from 2018 to 2020.
Read the detail: WELS Compliance and Enforcement Strategy 2018 to 2020.
Compliance and Enforcement Consultation – Summary of Submissions
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, 2017
Summarises the thirteen submissions received during the consultation with industry on areas where compliance and enforcement efforts should be focused for the period from 2018 to 2020.
Read the detail: WELS Compliance and Enforcement Consultation - Summary of Submissions.
Product Registration Database User Instruction Manual
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, 2017
User instruction manual providing guidance on how to access and use our product registration database to register products, and manage your registrations and fee payments.
Read the detail: Product Registration Database User Instruction Manual.
Compliance and Enforcement Policy
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, 2017
Details our approach to compliance, which focuses on engagement, education and collaboration with industry.
Read the detail: Compliance and Enforcement Policy
Infringement Notice Statement
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, 2017
The WELS Regulator issued this Infringement Notice Statement to provide clarity on cases where infringement notices will be given, and your rights and obligations when you receive infringement notices.
Read the detail: Infringement Notice Statement.
WELS Regulator's Statement
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, September 2016
Current transitional arrangements for labels and promotional materials under the WELS standard were established in this statement by the WELS Regulator.
Read the detail: WELS Regulator's Statement.
Strategic Plan 2022-25
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 2022
The plan was developed based on recommendations of the third independent review of the WELS scheme. It details the strategies and actions we will take to deliver on the objectives of the WELS Act.
Read the detail: WELS Strategic Plan 2022-25.
Second Independent Review of the WELS Scheme
Aither, for the Department of the Environment, 2015
Findings of the second independent review of the WELS scheme, which examined the appropriateness and regulatory impacts of the scheme and identified opportunities to streamline requirements.
Read the detail:
- Second Independent Review of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme
- Joint Government Response to the review recommendations.
Evaluation of the Environmental Effects of the WELS Scheme
Institute for Sustainable Futures, for the Department of the Environment, 2015
Research into the benefits of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme was conducted by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney in 2015.
Read the detail:
- Evaluation of the Environmental Effects of the WELS Scheme
- Analysis of the Impacts of a Proposed New Showerhead WELS Rating — addendum to Evaluation of the Environmental Effects of the WELS Scheme
WELS scheme effectiveness — Report of survey findings
Quantum Market Research for the Department of the Environment, 2014
This report details the findings of a consumer survey into the effectiveness of the WELS scheme, which found that consumers actively use water efficiency information when making purchasing decisions.
Read the detail: WELS Scheme Effectiveness — Report of survey findings
Cost Recovery Impact Statement
Department of the Environment, 2014
Report documenting the cost recovery arrangements for the WELS scheme, and demonstrating scheme compliance with the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines.
Read the detail: Cost Recovery Impact Statement.
Independent Review of the WELS Scheme
Guest, Chris for the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2010
Presents the findings of the first independent review of the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of the WELS scheme. The report also details recommendations for possible improvements to the scheme.
Read the detail: Independent Review of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme.
Minimum Water Efficiency Standards for Clothes Washers and Water Efficiency Labelling for Combined Washer-dryers
Wilkenfeld, G & Associates, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, 2010
This Regulation Impact Statement analyses costs and benefits of introducing minimum water efficiency standards (WES) for clothes washing machines and dishwashers, as well as extending the WELS scheme to the water used in the drying function of combined washer-dryers.
Read the detail: Minimum Water Efficiency Standards for Clothes Washers and Water Efficiency Labelling for Combined Washer-dryers Regulation Impact Statement.
Consideration of Hot Water Circulators for Inclusion in the WELS Scheme
Coomes Consulting Group, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, 2009
This report investigates the feasibility of including hot water circulators in the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme or other suitable programs.
Read the detail: Consideration of Hot Water Circulators for Inclusion in the WELS Scheme.
Evaporative Air Conditioners and Feasibility of Rating Their Water Consumption
Saman, W, Bruno, F & Liu, M, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, September 2009
Provides technical information about the possible inclusion of evaporative air conditioners in the WELS scheme. The report contains information on water consumption for these products across Australia.
Read the detail: Technical Background Research on Evaporative Air Conditioners and Feasibility of Rating Their Water Consumption.
Potential Expansion of the WELS Scheme to Include Domestic Irrigation Controllers
Irrigation Australia and Hydro-Plan Irrigation Consultants, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, 2008
Provides background information used to help prepare a cost benefit analysis and regulation impact statement on the potential inclusion of domestic irrigation controllers in the WELS scheme.
Read the detail: Potential Expansion of the WELS Scheme to Include Domestic Irrigation Controllers.
Water Consumption of Washer/Dryers
Szann, A, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008
Research into the actual water use of washer-dryers, and an assessment of the adequacy of current Australian Standards and test procedures for dryers. Used to evaluate the costs, benefits and feasibility of including water-using dryers in the WELS scheme.
Read the detail: Water Consumption of Washer/Dryers.
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme — Requirements for Urinals
Szann, A, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008
This report identifies deficiencies in performance requirements and discusses the feasibility of minimum water efficiency standards for urinals.
Read the detail: Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme — Requirements for Urinals.
Water Efficiency Labelling for Instantaneous Gas Water Heaters
Szann, A, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, 2008
This report examines the possibility of including instantaneous gas water heaters in the WELS scheme.
Read the detail: Water Efficiency Labelling for Instantaneous Gas Water Heaters.
WELS Labelling of the Dryer Component of Washer-Dryers
Szann, A, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008
Report on the possible extension of the WELS scheme to include labelling the dryer component of combination washer-dryers. Findings were that since the washing function is already regulated under the scheme, and the dryer function consumes large amounts of water, we should consider requiring that the dryer function is labelled.
Read the detail: WELS Labelling of the Dryer Component of Washer-Dryers.
Water Wastage of Instantaneous Gas Water Heaters
Szann, A, for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, 2008
Findings of research into water used by instantaneous gas water heaters, before they reach set temperature. Eight instantaneous gas water heaters were tested, measuring water use from the moment the unit was turned on until the flow reached an appropriate temperature.
Read the detail: Water Wastage of Instantaneous Gas Water Heaters.