The UN High Level Panel on Water state “The replacement of inefficient taps, toilets, showerheads, washing machines, and dishwashers with more efficient models can have significant effects on water consumption in the home, reducing per capita consumption significantly”. By 2025, 1.8 billion people are expected to be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could be under water stress conditions.
The International Water Association Efficient Urban Water Management Specialist Group has launched a Review of international water efficiency product labelling. This report has reviewed a range of water efficiency labelling schemes internationally and undertaken a comparison to identify areas of best practice, with an aim of promoting this water efficiency option internationally and supporting the development of a new ISO standard.
Aaron Burton, Secretary of the Specialist Group, said: “The evidence is clear that water efficiency labels on products like taps, toilets and showerheads can have a large impact on reducing water and energy use. This report is the culmination of input through workshops and from leaders working on water labels internationally. By sharing lessons on best practice, we hope this report can promote greater water efficiency labelling on products and support development of new labels globally linked to an ISO standard.”
