
From April, most water-using appliances and many plumbing fittings are required to display a Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) label.
The WELS label lets you identify products that use less water. It applies to washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, urinals, showers, and taps.
It displays two types of info:
- A star rating that shows relative water efficiency for the same type of product. The more stars, the more water-efficient. Most products have a maximum of 6 stars; but in the short term, showers will have a maximum rating of 3.
- A water consumption or flow-rate figure – such as litres per wash (for washing machines and dishwashers), litres per minute (for showers and taps), or litres per flush (for toilets and urinals).
The label for showers and taps will also say if the product is designed for mains or low-pressure water systems.
More information
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