Asian and Muslim communities have been told to wash their rice and feet less in a water-saving push. "Ofwat", the water industry regulator, has been criticised for funding “bizarre” guidance targeting ethnic minority households.

It used £270,000 of billpayers’ money for a research initiative that used a celebrity chef to teach Southeast Asians how to cook and wash rice with less water. Muslims were also encouraged to use only a litre of water when performing ritual ablutions known as “wudu” before prayer.

The water industry has come under increased scrutiny following the long, dry summer which has left much of the country under hosepipe bans, sparking concerns customers could be penalised with higher bills under schemes to limit water use and fund improvements to the network.

Andy Burnham was reported to be preparing an intervention this week after The Telegraph revealed that Ofwat, the regulator, planned to allow firms to build “surge pricing” into bills from April during periods of water scarcity.