Thursday 23 October 2025 · 5pm–10pm
Across the UK, households will come together on Thursday 23 October for Water Night 2025 – From Habit to Hero, a symbolic campaign encouraging people to pause, notice, and rethink their everyday water habits.
Imagine waking up one morning and the taps run dry. No shower. No cup of tea. No flush of the toilet. Life stalls in an instant. As Nicci Russell, CEO of Waterwise, said in her TEDxNorthwich talk “Running Out of Water in the UK: Hidden Crisis or Absurd Prospect?”: “Nothing happens without water.”
Despite this, most of us barely notice our everyday water use, having lengthy showers, rinsing dishes under a steady stream, or overfilling kettles. Water Night invites households to turn off non-essential taps from 5pm to 10pm, for a chance to reflect on how much we rely on running water every single day.
Nicci Russell, Waterwise CEO, said:
“Water Night is all about helping us to realise how valuable water is – and that we would be in a right mess without it! Nothing happens without water, and we are running out of water, right across the UK. Water Night, which we’re proud to run with our friends at The Water Conservancy in Australia, is fast becoming a regular anchor point for water efficiency in the UK. We all have feelings for water – it is precious to us, literally vital, and it brings us joy – but this often doesn’t translate into our subconscious water habits. That’s where Water Night comes in!”
Chris Philpot, CEO, The Water Conservancy commented:
“We are proud to partner with Waterwise to bring Water Night to the UK. Born in Australia, Water Night has demonstrated improvements in water literacy by 38% and helped households, school students, and businesses become more water aware. Water Night is a unique annual event that challenges communities about the value of water and the simple actions we can all take to use it more wisely,”
From habit to hero
This year’s theme focuses on turning unconscious routines into intentional, water-wise actions that protect our most precious resource. Across the country, iconic landmarks will light up in blue, uniting the nation in a shared call to action.
How to get involved
- Pledge to take part – Sign up to pause all non-essential water use from 5–10pm on 23rd of October. PLUS -everyone who signs up can enter into our prize draw to win a £200 Love2Shop voucher!
- Share your moment – Snap your household taking part, or a blue-lit landmark, and post on social media – tag us @waterwiseuk or use #WaterNightUK #FromHabitToHero
- Access free resources – Guides, posters, and activities are available to help households and schools make the most of the evening.
Schools take part too
Too many young people are missing out on essential lessons about water, 64% of students say they’ve never received any information on water efficiency at school or university. That’s why schools are invited to take part in Water Night. Teachers can access ready-to-use classroom resources and take-home activities, giving students the knowledge and tools to take action and involve their families. By joining in, young people can turn awareness into practical steps at home, making a real difference for the planet.
Waterguard, a proud product sponsor, added:
“We’re thrilled to back Water Night, driving smarter water use and raising awareness across the UK. By teaming up with Waterwise, Waterguard is doubling down on our commitment to innovation and water conservation, helping people protect every precious drop. This campaign shines a spotlight on the power of proactive water management, and the difference advanced technology can make in motivating communities to take action, cut water waste, and shape a more sustainable future for all.”
Waterwise
Waterwise is the UK’s leading independent voice on water efficiency, working to drive water-saving across society through work in policy, research, innovation and public engagement. Our vision is that water is used wisely every day, everywhere, by everyone, and our mission is to lead and inspire change so that water is never wasted.
Waterwise is happy to take press enquiries or interviews. Please contact chris.scullion@waterwise.org.uk
