Why is it that our Industry has very little involvement in contributing in an understanding of how to successfully apply water saving standards? Or the way the Australian Public's requirements are not surveyed for preferences. I believe many of us are well aware of the first water saving "miser" shower roses, which came on the market, covered in "AAAA". 
They certainly saved water, however you could not adequately wash your hair and the spray was so forceful, they were unpleasant to shower under. I appreciate that the current shower roses are far superior, although nearly all fully imported. The point is they failed, were they trialed, did they fail because they did not save water, or was the standard at the time not generic enough to allow the proper evaluation of this products ability to save water. If not are or current standards of such a generic nature that the current water saving products being manufactured will succeed in being accepted by the Australian Public.
We must assume that the current census within Government is just make it law and it will work. Well I am not so sure. My definition of saving water is "The amount of water saved, is the amount of water saved if you complete the same task adequately". In other words if a percentage of the population may for instance have extremely thick hair and in using this new water saving shower rose they become dissatisfied, as the shower rose will not adequately rinse their hair, will that individual persist with this shower rose because it's law. Or will they discard the shower rose?
Now I know that comfort tests are now being instigated, but why has it taken so long? For anyone with the most basic understanding in the principals of marketing, if a product or service fails, it requires a mammoth amount of effort and time in order to change the consumer's perspective.
In early 2000 when I decided to design and manufacture a water saving device, I made research into the market thoroughly by speaking with numerous Retailers and their floor staff. I quickly formed the view that the damage in the perception of a water saving products being commercially successful, featuring the now defunct "AAAA" rating system was extremely limited.
