If you've shopped for a tap, shower or toilet in Australia, you've probably seen a label with stars and a number like "6.0 L/min". That's the WELS rating, and it's one of the easiest ways to compare how much water a product uses before you buy.
What is WELS?
WELS stands for the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme. It's a national scheme that requires products like showers, taps, toilets and some appliances to carry a water rating label when they're sold in Australia. You can look up any registered product on the official WELS database at waterrating.gov.au.
How to read the label
Each WELS label shows two things:
- The star rating. More stars means the product uses less water. Products can be rated up to 6 stars.
- The water consumption. For taps and showers this is a flow rate in litres per minute (L/min). For toilets it's the average litres used per flush.
You'll often see a WELS registration number on product listings too, such as "T26014". That's the number you can search on the WELS database to check the rating yourself.
Typical ratings by product type
Ratings mean different things for different products, so it's best to compare like with like. Here's what you'll commonly see across our range:
- Basin mixers: often 5 stars at around 6.0 L/min, such as the Caroma Contura Basin Mixer and the Dorf Enigma Basin Mixer.
- Kitchen and sink mixers: commonly 4 stars at around 7.5 L/min, like the Methven Waipori Swivel Sink Mixer. A slightly higher flow is useful for filling pots and sinks.
- Showers: most quality showers are 3 stars at around 9 L/min, such as the Methven Rere Rail Shower. Spray technologies like Methven's Satinjet and Airstream are designed to keep the shower feeling full at that flow.
- Toilets: rated on average flush volume, for example 4 stars at a 3.5 L average flush on the Caroma Urbane Wall Faced Toilet Pan.
Why some products say "WELS not applicable"
Some items don't control water flow on their own, so they don't need a rating. That includes bath outlets and spouts, in-wall mixer bodies, trim kits and shower arms. For these, the rating comes from the mixer or shower they're paired with.
Is a higher star rating always better?
Not always. A higher rating saves water and the energy used to heat it, which lowers your bills. But the right choice depends on the job. A kitchen tap with a slightly higher flow can save time when filling a sink, while a 5-star basin mixer is plenty for hand washing and brushing teeth. For showers, look at the spray type as well as the stars, because a well-designed 3-star shower can feel more generous than a basic one.
Quick tips when comparing products
- Compare products of the same type, such as basin mixer to basin mixer.
- Check the flow rate (L/min), not just the stars.
- For showers, consider the spray pattern and coverage.
- Look up the registration number on waterrating.gov.au if you want to confirm the rating.
Every product listing at Elvor shows its WELS rating and flow rate where one applies. Browse our basin mixers, showers and kitchen sink mixers, or email info@elvor.com.au if you need help choosing.