Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme extended to cover urinal equipment

The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (March 29) extended the coverage of the voluntary Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) to urinal equipment, and has invited applications for registration.

There are various types of urinal equipment. Some use traps or feature automatic or manual flushing valves, while some use a combination form and others are urinal suites. Those defined as having Grade 1 water efficiency must consume not more than 1.5 litres of water per flush. Urinal equipment that reaches the efficiency standard, no matter whether potable water or seawater is used for flushing, is deemed to be water- and energy-saving.

The WSD encourages manufacturers, importers and related parties in the urinal equipment business to join the scheme. All they have to do is obtain a test certificate issued by a recognised laboratory that shows their equipment meets the standard of the scheme and submit it together with relevant documents to the WSD.

To echo the Government's advocacy on water conservation, the WSD launched the voluntary WELS on showers for bathing in September 2009. The schemes for water taps and washing machines were implemented in September 2010 and March 2011 respectively.

Products registered under the WELS are classified into four grades, with Grade 1 being the most water-efficient. A water-efficiency label that states the level of water consumption and efficiency is attached to the product to assist consumers in making choices. As at March 27, 2012, the numbers for registered WELS products were as follows:

WELS     Grade 1  Grade 2  Grade 3  Grade 4  Total
products  (No.)    (No.)    (No.)    (No.)   (No.)

Showers
for
bathing     140      19       19       0      178

Water
taps         49      28       19       0       96

Washing
machines     47       7        0       0       54


For the latest information about the schemes for the four product categories, and details of the registered products, please visit www.wsd.gov.hk/en/wels/index.html or call the WSD at 2824 5000.

Ends/Thursday, March 29, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:00

NNNN


Back