If you’re replacing a tap, showerhead or toilet, you’ve probably seen the familiar blue WELS water rating label covered in stars.
But what do those stars actually mean? And is choosing the highest possible WELS rating always the best option?
Australia’s Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme, better known as WELS, is designed to make it easier to compare how efficiently different plumbing fixtures and appliances use water.
For Queensland homeowners, renovators and landlords, understanding the rating can help you reduce water use, lower energy costs and make sure new plumbing fixtures meet current requirements.
What Is a WELS Rating?
WELS stands for Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards.
Products covered by the scheme are independently tested and given a star rating based on how much water they use.
The basic rule is simple:
More stars = greater water efficiency.
The label also tells you the actual water consumption of the product.
Depending on the fixture, this might be displayed as:
- litres per minute for taps and showers
- litres per flush for toilets
- litres per wash for washing machines and dishwashers
This is important because two products can look almost identical while using significantly different amounts of water.
What Do the WELS Stars Mean for Taps?
For household taps, the current ratings work roughly like this:
| WELS Rating | Water Flow |
|---|---|
| 3 Star | More than 7.5 to 9 L/min |
| 4 Star | More than 6 to 7.5 L/min |
| 5 Star | More than 4.5 to 6 L/min |
| 6 Star | More than 1.1 to 4.5 L/min |
A 3-star tap provides up to 9 litres of water per minute and represents the current minimum efficiency level generally required for taps installed in new residential buildings.
Moving to a 5 or 6-star tap can substantially reduce water consumption.
However, higher efficiency isn’t automatically better for every application.
A bathroom basin may work perfectly with a very low-flow 5 or 6-star tap, while in a kitchen or laundry you may prefer slightly more flow when filling sinks, buckets or large pots.
The goal is to choose a fixture that balances water efficiency with how the tap will actually be used.
What About Showerheads?
Modern showers can deliver a surprisingly good shower while using much less water than older fittings.
The current WELS ratings for showers are approximately:
| WELS Rating | Water Flow |
|---|---|
| 3 Star | More than 7.5 to 9 L/min |
| 4 Star | More than 6 to 7.5 L/min |
| 5 Star | More than 4.5 to 6 L/min |
Five stars is currently the highest efficiency rating available for a shower.
Importantly, higher-rated showers aren’t simply restricted until hardly any water comes out. Four and five-star showers are required to pass additional performance testing to make sure they still provide adequate spray coverage and performance.
That means a properly selected water-efficient shower shouldn’t automatically mean sacrificing shower quality.
Why Water-Efficient Showers Can Also Reduce Your Energy Bill
There’s another part of water efficiency that’s sometimes overlooked.
Every litre of hot water you don’t use is also a litre you don’t need to heat.
That means reducing shower flow can potentially lower:
- water consumption
- hot water usage
- electricity or gas consumption
- overall household running costs
For homes with electric storage, heat pump, gas storage or continuous-flow hot water systems, reducing unnecessary hot water consumption can make the entire system more efficient.
A water-efficient showerhead therefore doesn’t just save water; it can reduce the energy required to produce your hot water as well.
What Do WELS Ratings Mean for Toilets?
Modern dual-flush toilets use dramatically less water than many older toilets.
A traditional single-flush toilet can use around 9 litres or more every time it is flushed.
Modern toilets can use substantially less.
As a general guide:
- a typical 6L/3L dual-flush toilet is around 3-star rated
- a typical 4.5L/3L dual-flush toilet is around 4-star rated
Unlike taps and showers, toilet ratings are calculated using an average flush volume based on expected use of full and half flushes.
Replacing an old single-flush toilet can therefore make a significant difference to household water consumption, particularly in larger families.
Queensland Rental Properties: Why WELS Ratings Matter
WELS ratings can also be particularly important for Queensland investment properties.
Under Queensland rental rules, a property owner can only pass the full water consumption charges on to the tenant where certain requirements are met.
Among other requirements, the property must be individually metered and meet the required water-efficiency standards.
For a Queensland rental property to qualify as water efficient, relevant fixtures must meet requirements including:
Internal taps
Internal cold-water taps and mixer taps over basins, kitchen sinks and laundry troughs must have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute.
Showerheads
Showerheads must have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute.
Toilets
Toilets must be dual flush and meet maximum full-flush, half-flush and average-flush requirements.
For fixtures manufactured from 2005 onwards, a WELS rating of 3 stars or higher is generally the easiest way to identify fittings that meet the required efficiency level.
Landlords should also keep evidence such as plumbing reports, receipts, product specifications or compliance documentation showing that the property meets the relevant requirements.
Does a 3-Star WELS Rating Mean the Product Is Efficient?
Yes, but there’s an important distinction.
A 3-star fixture is essentially the baseline for many modern residential plumbing applications.
It doesn’t necessarily represent the most efficient product available.
For homeowners looking to reduce ongoing water consumption, moving from a 3-star fixture to a 4 or 5-star product can make sense, particularly for fixtures used frequently.
For example, a bathroom tap used dozens of times a day doesn’t necessarily need to deliver 9 litres per minute.
Reducing that flow to 5 or 6 litres per minute could significantly reduce unnecessary water consumption without materially affecting how the tap is used.
More Stars Aren’t Always the Whole Story
It’s tempting to simply buy the product with the most stars.
But good plumbing design involves more than chasing the highest number on the label.
You also need to consider:
- available water pressure
- what the fixture will be used for
- hot water system performance
- pipework and existing plumbing
- the required flow rate
- fixture quality
- user comfort
For example, installing an extremely low-flow kitchen tap might save water but become frustrating every time you need to fill a large pot.
Conversely, using a high-flow tap at a small bathroom basin may simply waste water.
The right choice is generally the most water-efficient fixture that still performs properly for its intended purpose.
Don’t Remove Flow Restrictors to Increase Pressure
A common mistake is assuming that the flow controller inside a tap or showerhead is causing poor water pressure.
Flow controllers are deliberately designed as part of the fixture and help maintain its tested water consumption.
Removing one can:
- increase water consumption
- affect how the fixture performs
- increase hot water usage
- potentially affect the manufacturer’s warranty
- alter the fixture from the configuration under which it received its WELS rating
If a shower or tap suddenly develops poor flow, the cause may instead be a blocked aerator, sediment, pressure problem, faulty valve or another plumbing issue.
It’s worth investigating the cause rather than simply removing the flow restriction.
Older Plumbing Fixtures Can Be Worth Replacing
If you’ve got taps, toilets or showerheads that have been in the house for decades, water efficiency has improved significantly since they were installed.
Older fittings can use considerably more water than modern 4 or 5-star equivalents.
You don’t necessarily need to replace every functioning tap in your house just because a newer one uses less water.
But when renovating, replacing a failed fixture or upgrading a bathroom, the WELS rating is worth considering as part of the purchasing decision.
Over the life of a fixture, even relatively small reductions in daily water consumption can add up.
Choosing the Right Water-Efficient Fixtures
The WELS label makes comparing fixtures much easier, but the star rating should be considered alongside the way your plumbing system actually operates.
If you’re renovating, upgrading a rental property or replacing old plumbing fixtures, RJT Plumbing & Gas can help you select and install water-efficient taps, showerheads, toilets and hot water equipment that suit your home.
A properly chosen fixture shouldn’t just use less water.
It should work properly, feel right to use and suit the plumbing system it’s connected to.
If you’re unsure whether your existing fixtures are water efficient or you’re planning an upgrade, get in touch with RJT Plumbing & Gas and we can help you work out the most practical option for your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a WELS water rating mean?
WELS stands for Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards. The star rating shows how efficiently a plumbing fixture or appliance uses water. In general, the more stars a product has, the less water it uses.
Is a 3-star WELS rating good?
A 3-star WELS rating meets the baseline efficiency level used for many modern residential taps, showers and toilets. Higher-rated 4-star and 5-star products can reduce water consumption further while still providing suitable performance when correctly selected.
How much water does a 3-star tap use?
A 3-star tap generally has a flow rate of more than 7.5 litres and up to 9 litres per minute. Higher WELS-rated taps use less water.
How much water does a water-efficient shower use?
A 3-star shower generally uses more than 7.5 litres and up to 9 litres per minute. A 4-star shower uses more than 6 litres and up to 7.5 litres per minute, while a 5-star shower uses more than 4.5 litres and up to 6 litres per minute.
Can a water-efficient shower reduce hot water costs?
Yes. A lower-flow shower reduces both water consumption and the amount of hot water that needs to be heated. This can reduce the energy used by electric, gas, heat pump and continuous-flow hot water systems.
What WELS rating is required for a Queensland rental property?
For Queensland rental properties where landlords want to pass on full water consumption charges, relevant fixtures must meet prescribed water-efficiency requirements. Internal taps and showerheads must generally have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute, and toilets must meet specified dual-flush efficiency requirements. Fixtures manufactured from 2005 onwards with a WELS rating of 3 stars or higher generally provide a simple way of demonstrating compliance.
Should I always choose the highest WELS rating?
Not necessarily. The best fixture is usually the most water-efficient option that still provides suitable performance for its intended use. Water pressure, fixture type, hot water system performance and required flow rate should also be considered.
Can I remove the flow restrictor from a tap or showerhead?
Removing a flow controller can increase water and hot water consumption and may affect the fixture's performance, warranty and tested WELS configuration. Poor flow can also be caused by blocked aerators, sediment, pressure problems or faulty plumbing components, so the cause should be investigated first.
