Have you ever thought about how much water your taps use? You could be wasting both water and money if your taps use more water than needed. Measuring your tap’s flow rate is easy and will help you figure out if it’s time to upgrade your fixtures.
Anyone paying a water bill should have an understanding on what contributes to it. Here’s why you should look into your home’s tap flow rate:
If your water bill seems high, it could be because of your taps. Good taps should have enough force to wash your hands, but not so much that you’re really feeling the pressure. Switching to a normal tap could mean lower bills.
If you're building, renovating or replacing tapware, you have to make sure your taps are WELS-compliant and meet national water efficiency standards. All of our taps meet these standards.
Australia is sensitive to drought, which can mean government-mandated water restrictions. Reducing water consumption is important in drought periods but also in general.
High water pressure (above 500–800 kPa) can damage pipes and appliances that require water. This can lead to expensive repairs. You can install flow restrictors or aerators to help balance pressure.
Flow rate will affect how you shower, wash dishes and even fill the kettle. Adjust your flow rates to get better water pressure and avoid frustration.
Some state governments and water authorities offer rebates for installing water-efficient tapware. Having tapware that complies with government standards can also increase home appeal to buyers.
A one litre jug or container with measurement markings
A timer
Turn on the tap fully.
Place the one litre jug under the tap and start the timer at the same time.
Stop the timer once the jug reaches the one litre mark.
Calculate the flow rate using this formula:
60 ÷ (seconds taken to fill one litre) = flow rate in litres per minute (L/min)
If it takes 10 seconds to fill the jug, this is what your formula should look like:
60 ÷ 10 = 6L/min. This means the tap flows at six litres per minute.
The Australian WELS Scheme sets water efficiency standards for household taps. This is what they recommend for different taps in the home:
4.5-7.5L/min for bathroom taps
6-9L/min for kitchen taps
Maximum 9L/min for showers
If your tap’s flow rate is over these limits, you should think about how to lower your usage.
At Yabby, all of our tapware is Australian & WELS certified, so you can trust it meets national water efficiency standards. This means you can install and use it with confidence, knowing it’s designed to save water and work reliably. Choosing quality tapware helps keep your home running smoothly without wasting water or causing pressure problems.
