No. If you prefer to conserve water, you can close the drain plugs and fill both the bathtub and water reservoir. Allow the water to run over the thermistor to find the perfect temperature, then close the drain plug and fill up the tub and reservoir. Once filled, turn off the faucet and use the excess water from the reservoir to wash/rinse your baby. When finished, simply open the drain plug to release the water from the bathtub.