Australia to establish ISO committee on water efficiency
Australia has secured international support for the establishment of a new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) project committee on water efficiency, spearheading efforts to help global consumers choose more water-efficient whitegoods and plumbing fixtures.
The committee’s establishment follows a vote from the ISO Technical Management Board last month to support the proposal. According to Standards Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans, this will “allow Australia to maximise the opportunity to promote greater water efficiency standards across the world by leading the international committee responsible for the work”.
The Australian-led committee will facilitate the development of a new International Standard on Water Efficiency Labelling, using as a base the Australian Standard AS/NZS 6400 Water efficient products – Rating and labelling. But while many will be familiar with the star rating system for water products, Dr Evans said the new labelling standard will go “beyond giving clear water efficiency labels on products for Australian consumers”.
“The support of the Commonwealth Government and the work of Standards Australia will enable Australian manufacturers to compete internationally, as well as play a role in a more water-efficient future,” she said.
Paul Morris, the Water Efficiency and Labelling Standards Regulator in the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, said Australia’s own Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme (WELS) has been very effective and is highly regarded internationally.
“By 2021, the use of water-efficient products will help reduce domestic water use by an estimated 150,000 million litres each year — enough water to fill 60,000 Olympic swimming pools,” he said.
“And in the same year, Australians will save more than $1 billion through reduced water and energy bills.
“An international standard will help other countries obtain similar water savings and, at the same time, benefit Australian consumers and manufacturers by reducing manufacturing costs.”
Work will continue in coming months to establish the committee and make progress internationally towards an international standard on water-efficient products.
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