Water is a precious and finite resource, and ensuring its sustainable use is more important than ever. Faith and diverse cultural communities have unique water-use traditions, and by working together, we can create impactful water-saving initiatives that align with cultural and spiritual values.
The Water Efficiency in Faith and Diverse Communities (WEFDC) Toolkit has been developed to support water professionals in designing and delivering effective water conservation campaigns.
Funded by Ofwat’s Innovation Fund – Water Breakthrough Challenge, the WEFDC project brings together expertise from faith communities, water companies, academia and environmental organisations to help integrate water efficiency into daily practices.
Download the WEFDFC Toolkit here
Watch our demo video for using the Toolkit here
What is the WEFDC Toolkit?
The WEFDC Toolkit is a comprehensive guide designed to help water companies develop culturally appropriate, effective water-saving campaigns.
It provides:
- Insights into faith-based and cultural water practices
- Proven engagement strategies to encourage sustainable water use
- Customisable campaign materials and templates
- A six-step framework to guide campaign development
By embedding water efficiency into faith and cultural traditions, we can inspire lasting behaviour change and make a meaningful impact on water sustainability.
Toolkit Objectives
The WEFDC Toolkit was developed to:
- Enhance understanding of how water is used and valued in different faiths and cultures
- Equip water professionals with practical resources for culturally relevant campaigns
- Encourage collaboration between faith groups, community leaders, and water companies
- Support behaviour change without compromising religious or cultural practices
By using this toolkit, water practitioners can design initiatives that truly resonate with communities, ensuring water-saving messages are meaningful, respectful, and impactful.
Key Insights from the WEFDC Project
The WEFDC project was designed to test and refine water-saving strategies in faith and cultural communities. Two key campaigns were developed:
Reviving the Sunnah Campaign (Faith-Based)
- Engaged the Muslim community to practice Wudu (ablution) using just 1 litre of water, instead of 6 litres under a running tap.
- Worked with mosques, faith leaders, and influencers to promote the Prophetic method of Wudu.
- Demonstrated the power of faith-based messaging in driving sustainable water use.
Rice Washing Campaign (Cultural-Based)
- Encouraged Southeast Asian communities to reduce excessive water use when washing rice.
- Collaborated with chef, beauty expert, and gardening professional to promote alternative uses for rice water.
- Showed that cultural traditions can be adapted for sustainability while honouring heritage.
Both campaigns highlighted the importance of engaging communities in ways that align with their values and beliefs.
How to Use the WEFDC Toolkit
The toolkit follows a six-step process to help users design and deliver successful water-saving campaigns:
- Prepare – Assess readiness and define objectives
- Define – Identify key challenges and opportunities
- Understand Your Audience – Gain insights into faith and cultural water practices
- Develop a Strategy – Craft engaging messages and campaign materials
- Implement – Execute campaigns in collaboration with community leaders
- Evaluate and Improve – Measure impact and refine future efforts
Each step includes practical tools, templates, and real-world examples to guide campaign development.
Download the WEFDC Toolkit to start developing your own faith and culturally inspired water-saving campaigns.
Your feedback is important: The WEFDC Toolkit is a dynamic, evolving resource. As new insights emerge and best practices develop, we welcome ongoing feedback from water companies, faith groups,
and community leaders to enhance its impact. Your contributions will help ensure the toolkit remains practical, relevant, and effective in promoting water efficiency across diverse communities.
For any feedback or questions relating to the toolkit, please contact Rachel Dyson at Waterwise.
For more information on the WEFDC project and campaigns please contact Mumin Islam at South Staffs/Cambridge Water: muminislam@south-staffs-water.co.uk or Jane Bellard at Weir The Agency: jane@weirtheagency.co.uk
Work with us
Waterwise works with individuals, communities and organisations across the UK to make sure water is never wasted. We are proud to partner with a number of organisations who share our vision and are committed to improving water efficiency within their own operations, as well as helping us to raise awareness of water scarcity.
