Water efficient products in a nutshell

Two Australian schemes which enable consumers to choose water efficient products are the WELS Scheme and the Smart Approved WaterMark Scheme.

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme

A WELS scheme label looks like this:

WELS Water label

and is applied to

  • Tap Equipment
  • Urinal Equipment
  • Lavatory Equipment
  • Showers
  • Flow Controllers
  • Clothes Washing Machine
  • Dishwashers

The label shows:

  • a one to six star rating which shows the model's water efficiency - the more stars on the label the more water efficient the product and
  • a number showing the water consumption per use (whitegoods, sanitary ware) or the water flow per minute (plumbing products) based on laboratory tests.

Recommended website

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme A joint initiative of Commonwealth, State, and Territory government agencies
Australia - WELS: 2009
http://www.waterrating.gov.au/


Smart Approved WaterMark

The Smart Approved WaterMark certification looks like this:

Smart Approved WaterMark certification

Smart Approved WaterMark is Australia's labelling scheme for products and services that are helping to reduce water use outdoors and around our homes.

Products which have been accredited with the Smart Approved Watermark include:

  • Auto
  • Cleaning
  • Gardening
  • Greywater systems
  • Plumbing
  • Pools and spas
  • Rainwater harvesting
  • Watering


This is a sister scheme to the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme.

Recommended website

Smart Approved WaterMark a national, not-for-profit program
Australia - Smart Approved WaterMark: 2009
http://www.smartwatermark.info/home/default.asp