‘Wash rice twice, use less water for wudu’: Over $367,000 UK campaign urges South Asians, Muslims to save water amid drought

England’s worsening water crisis has prompted a £270,000 (Over $367,000) taxpayer-funded campaign urging South Asian communities to reduce the amount of water used to wash rice and Muslims to use less water during wudu, the ritual cleansing performed before prayer.

Almost three-quarters of England is currently under drought conditions after five heatwaves this summer contributed to falling river and reservoir levels.

The water regulator Ofwat has funded two campaigns under a project titled “Water efficiency in faith and diverse communities”, aimed at encouraging lower water consumption in everyday cultural and religious practices.

‘Wash rice twice’

British Malaysian celebrity chef Ping Coombes features in one campaign video focused on rice-washing practices in Asian communities. Coombes says it is common to wash rice five to seven times until the water runs clear, but says she washes hers twice.

“By doing this we can save up to five litres of water each time,” she says. She demonstrates the method and suggests using leftover rice water to water plants.

In a separate campaign video, journalist Sonia Haria suggests that rice water can also be reused as a facial toner or sprayed on hair. She says that while there are not many clinical studies supporting such uses, it is a long-established beauty practice.

The campaign forms part of a wider effort to reduce water consumption as England faces pressure on its water supplies.

1ltr jug for wudu

A separate campaign, titled “Reviving the Sunnah”, has been launched in partnership with Cambridge Central Mosque and focuses on reducing water use during wudu. Wudu is performed before prayer and, for many Muslims, may be carried out up to five times a day.

Campaign material says Muslims typically use between six and 12 litres of water during each wudu session when using a running tap. It also states that a running tap can use about six litres of water every minute. The campaign refers to the Sunnah and says the Prophet used one Mudd, approximately one litre of water, to perform wudu.

It encourages Muslims to “Make wudu the Prophetic way”, with Imam Sejad Mekic of Cambridge Central Mosque demonstrating the practice using a one-litre jug instead of a running tap.

Why is the campaign facing criticism?

The campaign has faced criticism over its £270,000 cost, particularly amid concerns about water lost through leaks. Around three billion litres of water are reportedly lost through leaks in England every day.

Conservative shadow cabinet office minister Mike Wood criticised the spending, saying families already facing steep increases in their bills “will not be best pleased” that their money is being used on what he described as “bizarre schemes” aimed at changing longstanding practices.

The campaigns come as England continues to face drought conditions and pressure to reduce water consumption across households and communities.