WELs water saving scheme marks a profound sea change for industry and specifiers
By:
Enware Australia
26-Oct-2005
Keywords:
Water Conservation Rating
Despite being one of the driest countries on earth, it may surprise many to know that Australians are among the highest per capita users of water in the world. As world population has tripled, and water use has increased six-fold internationally over the last century, we in Australia have over-drawn on our water resources to the point that: Over a quarter of our river systems are already close to, or have exceeded, sustainable extraction limits (and two-thirds of water extracted is from these stressed systems). More groundwater is used than ever before, squeezing this precious resource, according to the Federal Governments National Land and Water Resources Audit. And yet Australia's water use has increased 65 per cent since the early 1980s, according to this same first comprehensive national audit* of Australias surface water and groundwater resources. Our historically heavy water use by agriculture, industry and domestic users isnt surprising, perhaps, when we consider that our water has been cheap by world standards. The landmark UN World Water Development Report Water for People, Water for Life, found that our water cost about $US50 cents a kilolitre at the time of the report. This cost was less than a third of that in Germany ($US1.91), less than a half of that in the UK ($US 18) and down there with that other water gobbler, the USA ($51c). Things are going to change because they just have to. Two things are certain: Australians are all going to have to pay more for water in the future. Much more. And all Australian agriculture, industry and households will be forced to change the ways in which they splash water around with abandon. While water bills will be the blunt instrument the stick - with which we will be persuaded to save water, the carrot will come by way of incentives and education. One major initiative that will impact on both industrial and domestic users of water (and the industries serving them) is the national WELs scheme to help to reduce urban water consumption on a national scale. The Australian Government, in collaboration with State and Territory governments, has introduced this Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme, which applies national mandatory water efficiency labelling and minimum performance standards to household water-using products. The WELS Scheme will help to address the issue of high domestic water consumption by providing nationally consistent water efficiency information to consumers at point of purchase and by encouraging manufacturers to design and deliver more water-efficient products. The aim of the WELS Scheme is to encourage the uptake of water-efficient products and appliances in domestic and commercial areas while maintaining individual choice and accounting for regional variations in water supply in urban Australia. WELS introduces mandatory water efficiency labels on all showers, toilets, domestic washing machines and dishwashers, urinals and all taps used at basins, laundry troughs and kitchen sinks - as well as voluntary water efficiency labels on flow control devices. Seven products were chosen because they contribute significantly to water use in Australian households (for example, showers account for about 29 per cent of household water use) and because a standard test exists relating to their performance, water consumption, and water flow rate. This scheme will soon make it illegal for such products especially tapware and showers to be offered for sale without rating and labelling. The scheme was introduced on a voluntary basis on 1 July 2005, and from July 1 2006, mandatory registration and labelling will apply to all of the products above, apart from flow controllers, for which this will continue to be optional for the time being. Once a product is registered under the scheme, compliance with the relevant standard (including labelling requirements) will be obligatory. In addition to labelling and performance requirements, a mandatory minimum water efficiency requirement will apply to toilet equipment. Further products are expected to be added to the scheme over time. It is a change for which we as a major Australian manufacturer of water and energy-efficient products have been preparing for a long time despite having to meet competition from cheap imports that do nothing to address the underlying problem of water wastage. We at Enware have doggedly pioneered technology such as water-saving showers, tapware and toilet fittings used across industries ranging from health care and hospitality, to manufacturing and mining. (One of the latest of these commercial, industrial and health care products is our energy-saving new Hydropathic Hygiene Station, a hand hygiene unit which delivers a full hot-water wash using only a quarter of a litre of water while fully conforming with strict new food preparation hygiene requirements. Another is food service pre-rinse sprays, extensively researched in partnership with water utility experts to
Keywords:
Water Conservation Rating