Water efficiency in faith and diverse communities

Water efficiency in faith and diverse communities

Amount awarded: £270,000

Led by: South Staffordshire Water

Partners: Waterwise, Severn Trent Water, South West Water, Affinity Water, Southern Water, Northumbrian Water, Get Water Fit, Hindu Climate Action, Eco Dharma Network, Cambridge University – Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge Central Mosque

The project seeks to establish a deeper understanding on how water is used and valued in different faiths and cultures. The aim is to develop an evidence-based comprehensive water efficiency engagement and support framework which water companies can adopt in the future. The project brings together a range of experts, academics, and faith groups to develop and introduce new bespoke water saving interventions and behaviour change campaigns linked to faith and culture. This could lead to significant environmental and social benefits, such as reducing per capita consumption for water, building public trust and value, as well as supporting hard to reach vulnerable customers by opening new channels of engagement and communication.

We are still in the implementation of campaigns phase. We have received positive feedback on our first behaviour change campaign linked to faith called “reviving the sunnah” launched in March 2024. In addition, we have recently procured a “wudu” water saving device which will be testing for the first time. We also are making good progress in developing the second behavior change campaign linked to culture driven by key “influencers” focused on cooking practices related to rice washing and re-use of starchy water which we plan to launch in late July. The campaign period will continue until September. We are also planning to hold a Young innovators panel workshop in July linking water use practices connected to faith and culture and find new ways to save water in the communities. We will be able to share more in the next quarterly update.

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Resources:

For more information on Water efficiency in faith and diverse communities, take a look at the following resources:

• This project was featured in the Supporting water-efficient communities Learning Report
• Alongside project partner the University of Cambridge, the project has published a report “Water and/in religious relations: A Cambridge study“
• The project was featured in the guest blog “Strength in difference – How the Ofwat Innovation Fund is supporting equity, diversity and inclusion” in October 2024

If you have any questions, email the project directly at [email protected].