UK Water Regulator Urges Muslims to Use Less Water for Ablution

The initiatives were part of the Ofwat-funded “Water Efficiency in Faith and Diverse Communities” programme, involving organisations and water companies including South Staffordshire Water, the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Divinity and Cambridge Central Mosque.

 

A pilot project in Cambridge encouraged local Muslims to use as little as one litre of water for wudu, the ritual washing performed before prayer. According to Ofwat, some people can use up to 12 litres of water during each ablution when leaving the tap running. Using a one-litre bottle could potentially save as much as 55 litres of water per person each day for those performing ablution five times.

 

The Cambridge project was reported to have saved around 5,900 litres of water per day.

 

The programme also suggested promoting the guidance through Islamic television channels. However, organisers stressed that the messaging should not imply that Muslims are more responsible than other communities for wasting water.

 

It is generally understood that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used no more than about one litre of water for ablution.

 

Another initiative, which reportedly cost taxpayers around £270,000, involved 2014 MasterChef winner and chef Ping Coombes. She demonstrated ways for Asian households to reduce water use while cooking and washing rice.

 

In a YouTube video, Coombes said some people wash rice five to seven times until the water becomes clear, but questioned whether this was necessary, saying that she personally washes rice only twice.

 

The initiatives have faced criticism, with opponents arguing that water companies should focus more on repairing leaking pipes and ageing infrastructure rather than telling households how to reduce consumption.

 

A Greenpeace UK study published in July found that leaking pipes in England and Wales waste around 2.87 billion litres of water every day—enough to fill approximately 1,150 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The study said the volume was at least five times greater than the amount of water saved through hosepipe restrictions.

 

Mike Wood, a shadow minister in the Cabinet Office, told The Telegraph that reducing water waste was a worthwhile objective, but argued that the bigger concern was the alleged waste of taxpayers’ money.

 

“Families are already under pressure from rising water bills,” Wood said, criticising what he described as an unusual project aimed at changing longstanding religious and cultural practices.

 

An Ofwat spokesperson told Middle East Eye that prolonged dry weather was reminding everyone to be more careful about water use. The regulator said the pilot was carried out jointly with several faith groups and charities and ended in April 2025.

 

The spokesperson stressed that the programme was voluntary, imposed no obligations and did not interfere with religious practices.

 

Meanwhile, the UK government launched a £75 million “Let’s Save Water” campaign in June to encourage the public to reduce household water consumption.