Showers are more water-efficient than ever, with test results and ratings to back up claims.

Showers are more water-efficient than ever – and now the WELS rating system has caught up to them, writes Sarah Pickette.

Purchased a new shower in the past few years? You may have noticed that the majority of better-quality designs on the market had a three-star Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) rating. Until recently, three stars signified the best performance you could expect from a shower. But manufacturers have put research dollars into bettering water efficiency and this has meant the release of extremely efficient showers that exceed the parameters of the three-star rating. The WELS scheme has caught up with these innovations by introducing a new four-star category. Already, more than 80 showers have obtained the ultimate four-star rating.

“Recent changes mean the most efficient showers and toilets can obtain a higher star-rating: four stars for showers and six for toilets,” says Paul Morris, WELS regulator for the Federal government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. “When industry leaders find ways to make products more efficient, they want WELS to recognise the improvements, so consumers know they are buying a product that will help them save water and money.”

How is a shower tested? It’s checked for water tightness; the angle at which water sprays from the head; the drop in water temperature between the showerhead and floor level (no more than 3˚C); and the flow rate and endurance of the flow controller (tested by being turned on and off about 50,000 times). For a shower to merit a four-star rating, it must meet the three-star criteria and pass a new ‘spray force and coverage’ test. “These tests were introduced in response to concerns about some very high-efficiency showers giving an unsatisfactory user experience,” says Morris. “A shower that uses very little water but hurts your skin or doesn’t let you rinse your hair properly isn’t doing its job. The additional tests we introduced make sure that efficient showers meet a standard for comfort and effectiveness, so the user experience isn’t compromised.”

WELS ratings have been in place since 2005 and the impact of this program should not be underestimated. By 2021, the WELS scheme will have helped Australians save in excess of 1000 gigalitres of water, more than double the capacity of Sydney Harbour.

‘AUSTRALIA IS THE DRIEST INHABITED CONTINENT. WHEN IT COMES TO ENCOURAGING THE USE OF MORE WATER-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES AND FIXTURES, WE’ RE AHEAD OF THE GAME .’ PAUL MORRIS, WELS REGULATOR