Muslims advised to use less water to perform ablutions

The UK's water industry regulator has advised Muslims in the country to use less water during religious ablutions, known as wudu, and Asian communities to reduce water usage when washing rice. This initiative is part of the "water efficiency in faith and diverse communities" programme, funded by Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority.

A pilot project in Cambridge encouraged local Muslims to use just one litre of water for their ablutions before prayer, which could potentially save up to 55 litres per day per person, as many people use up to 12 litres for this purpose. This pilot is estimated to have saved up to 5,900 litres per day in Cambridge.

The advice comes after a £270,000 project that involved a celebrity chef teaching Asians to wash rice using less water. Critics argue that water companies should prioritize fixing leaky infrastructure rather than lecturing people about their water usage habits. The Ofwat spokesperson stated that this pilot worked in collaboration with various faith groups and water companies to provide practical suggestions to save water.