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England’s water disaster has prompted a £270,000 marketing campaign urging South Asians to scrub rice twice and Muslims to scale back wudu water use.
UK’s £270,000 Water Marketing campaign Tells South Asians To Wash Rice Twice, Not Seven Occasions
England’s worsening water disaster has prompted a £270,000 taxpayer-funded marketing campaign asking South Asian communities to scrub rice fewer occasions and Muslims to scale back the quantity of water used for wudu, the ritual cleaning carried out earlier than prayer.
Virtually three-quarters of England is at the moment in drought after 5 heatwaves this summer season pushed down river and reservoir ranges.
The water regulator Ofwat has funded two campaigns beneath a challenge referred to as “Water effectivity in religion and various communities”, aimed toward decreasing water use in on a regular basis cultural and spiritual practices.
‘Wash Rice Twice’
British Malaysian movie star chef Ping Coombes options in a marketing campaign video targeted on rice-washing habits in Asian communities.
Coombes says it is not uncommon to scrub rice 5 to seven occasions till the water runs clear. She says she washes her rice twice as an alternative. “By doing this we are able to save up 5 litres of water every time,” she says.
Coombes demonstrates the tactic and in addition suggests utilizing leftover rice water to develop vegetation.
In a separate video, journalist Sonia Haria suggests reusing rice water as a facial toner or spraying it on hair. “Though there aren’t a lot of scientific research, it’s a tried and examined magnificence staple,” she says.
The marketing campaign is a part of the broader effort to scale back water consumption as England faces falling river and reservoir ranges.
One-Litre Jug For Wudu
A second marketing campaign, referred to as “Reviving the Sunnah”, has been launched in partnership with Cambridge Central Mosque.
It encourages Muslims to scale back water use throughout wudu, which is carried out earlier than prayer and, for a lot of Muslims, repeated as much as 5 occasions a day.
Marketing campaign materials says Muslims sometimes use between six and 12 litres of water throughout every wudu session when utilizing a operating faucet. It additionally says many individuals carry out wudu beneath a operating faucet, utilizing about six litres of water each minute.
The marketing campaign refers back to the Sunnah, stating that the Prophet carried out wudu utilizing one Mudd, roughly one litre of water. It urges Muslims to “Make wudu the Prophetic approach”.
Imam Sejad Mekic of Cambridge Central Mosque demonstrates the observe utilizing a one-litre jug as an alternative of a operating faucet.
Marketing campaign Faces Criticism Over Price
The marketing campaign has attracted criticism due to its value, notably as about three billion litres of water are misplaced via leaks each day.
Conservative shadow cupboard workplace minister Mike Wooden mentioned households already dealing with steep will increase of their payments “is not going to be greatest happy” that their cash is being spent on “weird schemes” meant to alter longstanding practices.
The campaigns come as virtually three-quarters of England stays in drought following 5 heatwaves this summer season.
The Ofwat-funded challenge is aimed toward decreasing water use amongst religion and various communities by addressing on a regular basis practices involving important quantities of water.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18The present reporting doesn’t point out whether or not the marketing campaign will considerably scale back UK water consumption.
Ask News18Concerning the Writer
Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about 9 years of expertise in protecting nationwide politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and worldwide affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As…Learn Extra
London, United Kingdom (UK)
August 24, 2026, 09:21 IST
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