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WELS Label Awareness and Attitudes in Australia: Implications for Water Security

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey, which is part of my master’s thesis research. This project explores how people living in Australia perceive and engage with the WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) scheme, and how water efficiency labels might support more sustainable water use and contribute to water security.

The WELS label is a familiar feature on products like taps, showers, toilets, and washing machines, showing how much water the product uses — similar to the energy rating label on appliances. By helping consumers compare and choose more efficient options, the scheme plays a role in encouraging water conservation.

Your opinion is valuable regardless of your familiarity with the WELS label — the survey seeks to capture a wide range of perspectives.

The survey is anonymous and will take about 5–10 minutes to complete. The results will be used solely for academic purposes.


Thank you again for your time and participation in this research!

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Section 1/3 Socio-demographic questions 

1

What is your gender identity?

Select one answer
2

How old are you?

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3

What is the size of your household?

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4

Which of the following best describes your current housing situation?

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5

Which of the following best describes the area where you currently live?

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6

In your opinion, would you say you live in an area affected by water stress or scarcity (such as frequent droughts or flooding)?

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7

How would you describe your current financial situation?

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8

How would you describe your attitude toward protecting the environment?

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9

In your opinion, how much effort do you make to save water at home? (This could include things like using more efficient appliances such as WELS-rated products, making behavioural changes such as taking shorter showers, turning off taps when not in use, or using rainwater in the garden, etc.)

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Section 2/3 Water security 

10

How do you personally define water security?

(Below are several academic definitions of water security. Please select the one that best matches your perspective. If none of them match, you can also write your own definition or describe how you understand the term.)
11

How important do you think freshwater is as a resource?

Select one answer
12

Which of these challenges do you think are connected to water security in general? (Select all that apply)

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13

The issue of water security, (that is, ensuring access to sufficient drinking water) should be considered a matter of national interest and state security.

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14

Do you think Australia is well-prepared to deal with water shortages in the next 25 years?

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15

How serious do you think freshwater scarcity is today - and how serious do you think it will be in the future - both in your personal life and at the state level?

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Section 3/3 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS)

The WELS label (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) is an Australian government scheme that rates the water efficiency of products like taps, showers, toilets, washing machines, and dishwashers.

The label shows:

Star rating (from 1 to 6 stars) – more stars mean better water efficiency.

Water consumption – usually in liters per minute or per use, depending on the product.

It helps consumers compare products and choose ones that use less water, saving both water and money.

16

How well do you understand what the WELS label indicates? (Please refer to the image showing examples of WELS-labelled products across different categories).

Select one answer
question image
17

Do you take the WELS label into account when purchasing a product (for example, a washing machine, showerhead, or dishwasher)?

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18

How does the WELS label help you make purchasing decisions? (Select all that apply)

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19

How important do you think water efficiency is for the future of Australia, given the country’s climate and water availability challenges?

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20

Do you think the government should play a central role in enforcing water conservation policies (e.g., mandatory water-saving products, restrictions, etc.)?

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21

Do you believe that effective water demand management is crucial for maintaining the security of your state or country?

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22

Which of the following do you think is more important for ensuring a sustainable water future?

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23

Do you feel that water demand should primarily be managed at the individual level (e.g., personal water-saving efforts) or at the government/state level (e.g., regulations, policy enforcement)?

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24

In managing water demand, do you think the state should prioritize the following approaches to mitigate water scarcity?

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25

How important do you think government involvement is in ensuring the success of the WELS scheme?

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26

Do you think the adoption and effectiveness of the WELS scheme would be the same if it were voluntary, rather than government-led and mandatory?

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27

Would you consider purchasing more water-efficient products if it meant saving money in the long run, even though they might be more expensive initially?

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28

Do you believe that the introduction and widespread use of water labelling schemes (like the WELS scheme) will lead to the production of more affordable water-efficient products over time?

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29

In your opinion, what are the key benefits of the WELS scheme (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) in managing water demand? (Select all that apply)

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Thank you for your time and your feedback.
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