WaterAid is an international nonprofit organization that works to provide clean water, good sanitation, and proper hygiene. It was created in 1981 as part of the UN International Drinking Water Decade (1981–1990). As of 2025, WaterAid operates in 30 countries.
The organization was first started by the UK water industry on July 21, 1981, as a charity based in London. Its first projects were in Zambia and Sri Lanka. In 2010, WaterAid became a federation, which includes members in Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Sweden, the UK, and the US. It also has regional offices and programs in 23 other countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
WaterAid’s work includes helping people get clean water, building safe sanitation systems, teaching better hygiene habits, and working with governments and water companies to improve access to water. Its income increased from £1 million per year in 1987 to £113 million in 2018–19.
History
WaterAid was founded in 1981 by members of the UK water industry at the Thirsty Third World conference in London. WaterAid was officially established as a charity in the UK on July 21, 1981. King Charles III has been its president since 1991. Other branches were created as follows: WaterAid America and Australia in 2004, Sweden in 2009. In 2010, the organization became a federation and created the WaterAid International Secretariat. In 2014, WaterCan/EauVive, an NGO founded in Canada in 1987, became WaterAid Canada and joined the federation.
In 1993, WaterAid started its 1000th project and agreed to fund the Hitosa Gravity Scheme in Ethiopia. The Hitosa scheme was the largest single water supply project in Ethiopia at that time, providing water to 50,000 people.
In 2003, WaterAid was named UK charity of the year at the Charity Times Awards. In November 2006, WaterAid was called "Britain's Most Admired Charity 2006" by its peers in the voluntary sector, as reported in Third Sector magazine. WaterAid was ranked first in its category, followed by Save the Children and The Samaritans. Andrew Cook, then WaterAid's Director of Communications and Fundraising, said, "We are happy to have won this important award. This award shows the hard work of all WaterAid's staff and volunteers in the UK and around the world." WaterAid was also a Stockholm Water Prize laureate in 1995.
In 2009, a new Global Strategy was launched, aiming to reach 25 million more people in 30 countries by 2015. By 2011, WaterAid's 30th anniversary year, it had provided safe water to nearly 16 million people and sanitation to over 11 million. In 2015, WaterAid launched its 2015-2020 Global Strategy, with the goal of improving access to sanitation, hygiene, and safe water to change the lives of the poorest people.
In February 2022, WaterAid launched its first legacy campaign, "What Jack gave," focusing on will donations. Legacy income currently makes up about 10% of WaterAid's total income.
Fundraising
WaterAid has worked with the Glastonbury Festival since 1994. In 2006, Michael Eavis, the person who started the festival, and his daughter Emily visited WaterAid’s work in Mozambique. By 2007, 130 WaterAid volunteers helped at the festival. In 2011, about 200 WaterAid volunteers were present. In 2016, when more than 500 WaterAid volunteers were at Glastonbury, the charity introduced Talking Toilets. These toilets shared information that was spoken by celebrities like Cerys Matthews and Brian Blessed.
One of WaterAid’s fundraising events is "Coast Along for WaterAid," a sponsored walk along parts of the South West Coast Path. This event happened every year from 2005 to 2012. In 2010, Gordon Brown, the then UK Prime Minister, participated.
In 2012, WaterAid partnered with Waterlogic to help collect money for poor communities worldwide so they could get clean and safe water. Waterlogic’s Firewall technology cleans water and removes dangerous germs. Waterlogic promised to give $225,000 to WaterAid over three years.
Fundraising events in 2013 included The WaterAid200 Mountain Challenge and different running, cycling, and other sports events, as well as street fundraising.
WaterAid is working with Team Water to raise $40 million to provide 2 million people with clean drinking water. In 2025, Team Water reached its goal of $40 million to give 2 million people around the world access to clean and safe drinking water.
WaterAid also receives direct funding from many companies, non-profit groups, and schools. Important supporters include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Boeing, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Google, Mercy Corps, New Venture Fund, PepsiCo, Pfizer, and the World Bank Group.
Activities
WaterAid partners with local groups in 34 countries across Africa, Asia, Central America, and the Pacific to help poor communities build long-lasting water sources and toilets near their homes. It also teaches safe hygiene habits and works with governments to improve water and sanitation policies that help vulnerable people. WaterAid supports public control of water supplies but does not take a position on whether public, community, or private groups should manage services.
Working with Unilever, the Hygiene and Behavior Change Coalition (HBCC) helped fight the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants. It continued to teach people about good hygiene habits and encouraged trust in the COVID-19 vaccine.
In Phase 1 of a project, six countries—Ethiopia, Ghana, Nepal, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Zambia—received handwashing stations and hygiene supplies, helping 152 million people. In Phase 2, Nigeria was chosen because of its earlier work on hygiene habits, supported by the Heineken Africa Foundation.
WaterAid began working in Zambia during the 1992–1994 drought. It now operates in seven districts, five in the Southern Province (Monze, Siavonga, Namwala, Itezhitezhi, and Kazungula), and two in Lusaka and Western Provinces (Kafue and Kaoma). Each year, WaterAid spends about ZMK8–9 billion (over £1 million) on projects in Zambia, providing 42,600 people with clean water.
WaterAid is helping the government improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in Monze District. In Sichiyanda village, projects began in 2001, and the community dug a well with a bucket and windlass. Villagers are learning to keep areas clean by building dish racks, rubbish pits, and avoiding stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. So far, 28 latrines have been built, with more planned.
These efforts have improved life in Monze. Wells save women and children time, allowing women to do work like basket weaving and pottery, and children to attend school more. Because of this, WaterAid is seeking to drill 32 more boreholes in Monze.
Most WaterAid projects are funded by others, but the Milenge Project is self-supplied. This means people in the area pay for materials themselves, without outside help. WaterAid is working in four wards of Western Milenge, training 16 masons (4 per ward) at a training institute. These masons are taught technical skills and how to promote their services. So far, 95 well owners have shown interest in their work.
WaterAid became a global group, opening offices in North America and Australia. Its office in New York manages programs in Latin America.
WaterAid India (Jal Seva Charitable Foundation) is a registered not-for-profit organization in India. It aims to make clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene normal for everyone.
WaterAid began working in India in 1986 and since 2022 has helped communities in both rural and urban areas. It operates with a local board and teams that handle programs, finances, and policy support.
WaterAid India works with governments, donors, and partners to provide clean water, toilets, and hygiene to millions, helping communities escape poverty. It uses low-cost methods to deliver sustainable solutions to the most vulnerable. Its vision is a world where everyone has safe water and sanitation.
In 2023–24, WaterAid India helped communities in 11 Indian states (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal).
WaterAid India’s approach includes:
– Empowering communities to create and manage water plans
– Using models led by local leaders for long-term water security
– Teaching communities about water budgeting through programs like Jal Chaupal
– Supporting institutions like schools and healthcare centers
WaterAid India promotes safe sanitation and provides hygiene training. It works with communities to choose sanitation options that meet the needs of children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
WaterAid India’s efforts include:
– Managing waste safely, from collection to disposal or reuse
– Creating groups that include people with disabilities, women, and children
In the last five years, WaterAid India helped 3,261,586 people in 652,317 households gain better access to water and sanitation. In 2022–23, it provided clean water to 260,383 people, safe sanitation to 239,533 people, and hygiene education to 341,485 people.
Key highlights include:
– The WaterAid project in Kalmandhai, Tiruc