In addition to the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) rating on bathroom, kitchen and laundry plumbing products, many will also carry the WaterMark logo, either as a sticker or an engraving. The WaterMark logo is owned by Standards Australia. It signifies that the product bearing the mark has been tested under standardised conditions, and that it meets with all the relevant regulations and reaches high standards of safety and quality. The WaterMark label is used on all products relating to water supply, sewerage, plumbing and drainage. Because regulations on these vary from state to state, Standards Australia is working towards using this logo as a branding mark to ensure compliance with a uniform, Australia-wide standard.
Quality and compliance
While WELS is an indicator of product efficiency, the WaterMark logo assures compliance with all the relevant laws and codes relating to plumbing. A product may have a WELS rating, but if it doesn’t have a WaterMark logo, you will need to check if it can be legally installed.
The WaterMark Scheme ensures products are fit for their intended purpose, and that their use does not create significant risks or any likely outcome of:
- personal illness, loss, injury or death;
- environmental degradation;
- contamination of the water resource;
- adverse impact on infrastructure (Private and Public);
- contamination of the water supply.
For more information, visit the WaterMark website.
