Most people are used to the idea that some appliances use less energy than others even though they produce the same results. But did you know that there are also measures for water efficiency for appliances, too?

Which appliances?

Some of the items that are now rated for water efficiency include:

What does the rating mean?

The rating system in use gives each appliance a number of water drops, with the greater number of drops indicating a greater amount of water used.

For instance, you may see a toilet rated with 4.5 drops or 6 drops which directly relates to the number of litres the toilet uses in a small flush.

Can I trust the water rating?

The water rating of items is covered by the standard AS/NZS6400:2005 Water-efficient products-Rating and labelling, known as WELS.

The WELS standard applies to showers, tap equipment, flow controllers, toilets, urinals, washing machines and dishwashers.

Overall, appliances adhering to WELS is expected to significantly reduce water consumption; for example, WELS could result in a reduction of about 6.5 percent in water consumption in dishwashers between 2003 ND 2016 which is a saving of about 25,600 Mega litres of water!

Should I always choose the lowest water rating item?

As much as it seems obvious to choose a lower water rating every time, it isn’t always that simple.

For instance, if a dishwasher is efficient for water but wastes a lot of electricity, it may be worth finding another brand which is a little less water efficient but highly energy efficient.

You also need to consider the use of the item in question. Taps are rated according to the amount of water that would flow through the tap if it was turned on full for a minute. If you will need high water pressure from that tap, then a low rated tap may not meet your needs. The reality is that a tap is only as efficient as the people who turn it on and off so the ratings are less useful here.