Thorough testing is performed on all products we regulate under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme before they can be registered and labelled with their water rating.
Testing ensures that products are fit for purpose and meet Australian standards for water efficiency. It must be performed at a laboratory accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).
Regulated plumbing products must also be WaterMark certified before they can be registered with us.
Features that are tested
Features and product functionality tested vary depending on the type of product.
Dishwashers are tested for:
- average total water consumption
- wash of a soiled load (equal to the maximum number of place settings the machine can carry)
- washing and drying effectiveness.
Flow controllers are tested for:
- endurance tests 50,000 on/off cycles
- flow rate at 150, 250 and 350 kPa (kilo Pascals, a measure of pressure)
- nominal flow rate
- water consumption.
Showers are tested for:
- angle at which water sprays from the head (to be between 0°and 8°)
- drop in temperature between 150 mm and 750 mm below the shower head (no more than 3°C)
- endurance of the flow controller by being turned on and off around 50,000 times
- spray force and coverage (4 star showers only)
- watertightness
- water consumption.
Hoses for handheld models are also tested for performance.
Tapware products are tested for:
- endurance of tap components 50,000 on/off cycles
- hydraulic strength
- torque of joints
- watertightness
- water consumption
- water temperature test from hot to cold and back again every 55 cycles.
Toilets are tested for:
- endurance of inlet and outlet cistern valves
- leakage
- performance in discharging material at full and reduced flush
- physical distortion
- splashing
- water consumption.
Urinals are tested for:
- effective flushing of urinal surfaces
- flushing performance (water closet and urinal flush devices)
- splashing
- watertightness (water closet and urinal flush devices)
- water consumption.
Washing machines are tested for:
- average total water consumption
- rinse performance
- severity of wash
- soil removal
- wash of a normally soiled cotton load (at the rated load capacity of the machine)
- water efficiency rating (based on total water consumption and rated capacity)
- water extraction.
Results of testing
Water consumption information is provided on the water rating label or in text advice on registered products, including:
- water efficiency star rating
- water usage rate (litres per flush, minute or load)
- wash program and capacity used for testing (for dishwashers and clothes washing machines only).
These details can help you compare and choose more water efficient products.