UK Advises Muslims to Reduce Water Use During Wudu

LONDON, August 21 — Muslims in the United Kingdom have been encouraged to reduce water consumption during wudu, or ablution, as part of a government-backed initiative promoting water efficiency among faith and diverse communities.

The advice was issued under the Water Efficiency in Faith and Diverse Communities project, funded by the UK water regulator Ofwat. A pilot programme involving South Staffordshire Water, the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Divinity and Cambridge Central Mosque explored whether Muslims could complete wudu using just one litre of water.

According to Ofwat, using a running tap for five daily ablutions can consume up to around 12 litres of water per person each day. The pilot found that using a one-litre bottle could potentially save significant amounts of water.

The Cambridge project reportedly saved around 5,900 litres of water per day during the pilot.

A separate initiative also focused on water use in Asian cooking. According to The Telegraph, celebrity chef Ping Coombes, winner of MasterChef in 2014, advised people to reduce water consumption when washing rice. She suggested that washing rice twice is sufficient instead of following the traditional practice of washing it five to seven times.

The initiatives have drawn criticism from some politicians and commentators, who argue that water companies should prioritise fixing leaking infrastructure rather than advising people to change religious or cultural practices.

Greenpeace UK research cited in the report estimates that around 2.87 billion litres of water are lost every day through leaking pipes in England and Wales.

Mike Wood, the UK Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, criticised the spending, saying that reducing water waste is a worthwhile goal but questioning efforts to alter established religious and cultural practices.

Ofwat defended the initiative, saying participation was voluntary and that the project was not intended to interfere with religious practices. The regulator said the pilot was designed to encourage more efficient use of a limited natural resource and concluded in April 2025.