Water Projects

Find and fund the most effective water projects globally. Filter by tax status, cost-effectiveness, and project type.

Found 32 dynamic projects
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Blood: Water Mission
Rank ACommunity wells, sanitation facilitiesSub-Saharan Africa

Blood: Water Mission

$3
Per Person / Yr

Launched first project in 2005, focused on clean water and sanitation in African communities with a holistic, community-driven approach.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$45 / person
Target AreaKenya (+3)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Niche but impactful, smaller scale.

Min. Donation: $20
Donate Direct
Borama BioSand Filter Project (Somaliland)
Rank UPoint-of-use biosand filtration with zeolite modificationEast Africa

Borama BioSand Filter Project (Somaliland)

$0
Per Person / Yr

Household-level biosand filter evaluation in Borama, Somaliland, using zeolite-modified filter media. The study confirmed pathogen and turbidity reduction with a reported unit construction cost below US$20 per filter.

Lifespan10 Years
Setup CapEx$0 / person
Target AreaSomaliland
Scout Auditor Audit Note

[Original Cost: <US$20.00 (USD)] Extremely low hardware cost (<$20/unit) and simple local construction make this highly scalable for communities lacking centralized treatment, though the source does not specify household size or establish a direct donor funding channel.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
Charity: Water
Rank AInfrastructure

Charity: Water

$1
Per Person / Yr

Drills deep boreholes fitted with robust handpumps and builds piped solar water networks. Collaborates directly with verified local regional operators to ensure lifelong project maintenance.

Lifespan10 Years
Setup CapEx$10 / person
Target AreaUganda (+7)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

UK Registered Charity. Eligible for Gift Aid, which increases the impact of every pound contributed by UK taxpayers. Highly transparent field reporting.

USA Tax DeductibleUK Tax DeductibleAustralia Tax DeductibleCanada Tax DeductibleIreland Tax DeductibleSwitzerland Tax DeductibleGermany Tax DeductibleFrance Tax DeductibleNetherlands Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: $5
Donate Direct
Community Transformation Trust (CTT) Water Filters
Rank AWater filters, Village DrillsMiddle East & Africa

Community Transformation Trust (CTT) Water Filters

$2
Per Person / Yr

Partners with GHNI to provide water filters to families in Egypt, and funds Village Drills for remote communities in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Lifespan10 Years
Setup CapEx$20 / person
Target AreaEgypt (+2)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Grassroots organization providing direct intervention. $120 funds a water filter for a family. Donations are tax-deductible in New Zealand.

NZ Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: NZ$120
Donate Direct
Drop in the Bucket - Uganda Borehole Wells
Rank UMechanical borehole drilling with hand-pump installationSub-Saharan Africa

Drop in the Bucket - Uganda Borehole Wells

$0
Per Person / Yr

Drills 50-meter deep borehole wells in Uganda equipped with India Mk II hand pumps. A typical well costs approximately $7,500. The charity mobilizes to drill multiple wells in a region simultaneously to share transport costs and improve efficiency.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$0 / person
Target AreaUganda (+1)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

[Original Cost: $7,500 (USD)] Transporting drilling rigs and crews to remote villages is a major cost driver; drilling at least ten wells per mobilization significantly reduces the average cost per well. Each project includes community mobilization, sanitation and hygiene training, and a monitoring plan.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
EA NZ - GiveWell Water Quality Interventions
Rank AChlorine dispensers / water chlorinationSub-Saharan Africa

EA NZ - GiveWell Water Quality Interventions

$2
Per Person (One-off)

Supports GiveWell's top-rated water charities like Evidence Action's Dispensers for Safe Water. Donations made through EA NZ are tax-deductible in New Zealand.

Lifespan1 Years
One-off Cost$2 / person
Target AreaKenya (+2)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Highly effective, thoroughly vetted by GiveWell. EA NZ provides a 33% tax-rebate route for New Zealand donors.

NZ Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: NZ$5
Donate Direct
Evidence Action - Dispensers for Safe Water
Rank AHardwareSub-Saharan Africa

Evidence Action - Dispensers for Safe Water

$1
Per Person / Yr

Maintains community chlorine dispensers at rural water points across Sub-Saharan Africa. Allows families to treat drinking water immediately upon collection, preventing waterborne diarrheal diseases.

Lifespan5 Years
Setup CapEx$2 / person
Target AreaKenya (+2)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

GiveWell Top Charity program. Outstanding cost-effectiveness of $1.50 per person per year. Australian tax-deductibility is fully supported when processed via The Life You Can Save Australia.

USA Tax DeductibleUK Tax DeductibleAustralia Tax DeductibleIreland Tax DeductibleSwitzerland Tax DeductibleGermany Tax DeductibleFrance Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: $2
Donate Direct
Give Clean Water (Fiji)
Rank ASawyer Water FiltersOceania

Give Clean Water (Fiji)

$1
Per Person / Yr

Brings sustainable clean water solutions to homes in Fiji by training locals to install and maintain Sawyer water filters. $60 sponsors a family.

Lifespan10 Years
Setup CapEx$10 / person
Target AreaFiji
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Focuses heavily on follow-up and maintenance, reporting 98.3% of filters still working after installation. Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) in the USA.

USA Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: $60
Donate Direct
GiveWell - Chlorination Programs
Rank AChlorination (ongoing consumable)Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia

GiveWell - Chlorination Programs

$2
Per Person (One-off)

Funds water chlorination programs in low- and middle-income countries. Highly cost-effective, with over $125 million granted since 2017. Reduces waterborne disease.

Lifespan1 Years
One-off Cost$2 / person
Target AreaKenya (+3)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Extremely low-cost intervention. The $2 per person annual cost makes it among the most cost-effective water charities.

Min. Donation: $1
Donate Direct
GiveWell Water Quality Interventions
Rank BChlorination (dispensers, tablets)Sub-Saharan Africa

GiveWell Water Quality Interventions

$5
Per Person (One-off)

Grants for water chlorination programs in low- and middle-income countries, with over $125 million provided since 2017.

Lifespan1 Years
One-off Cost$5 / person
Target AreaKenya (+2)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Highly cost-effective and evidence-based, but large-scale and not direct individual donation routing.

Min. Donation: $100
Donate Direct
ReliefAid Gaza Emergency Water Distribution
Rank AInfrastructureMiddle East

ReliefAid Gaza Emergency Water Distribution

$11
Per Person (One-off)

Delivering safe drinking water to families in displacement camps across Gaza. Sourced from local boreholes and treated using operational desalination plants to ensure distribution is independent of border crossings.

Lifespan1 Years
One-off Cost$11 / person
Target AreaPalestine (+1)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Highly cost-effective emergency intervention in a major conflict zone, bypassing border dependency by sourcing water from active boreholes treated locally. Extremely high immediate survival impact.

NZ Tax DeductibleUSA Tax DeductibleCanada Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: NZ$25
Donate Direct
Sabaki Water Project - Large-Scale Piped System
Rank APiped Water SystemSub-Saharan Africa

Sabaki Water Project - Large-Scale Piped System

$1
Per Person / Yr

The Sabaki Water Project in Kenya provides 80 million liters of water per day to over 650,000 people. It uses a 20-year operation phase before handover.

Lifespan20 Years
Setup CapEx$20 / person
Target AreaKenya
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Large-scale piped systems can serve many people efficiently over a long lifespan.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
SAPA WASH Program - Water Well Drilling
Rank UBorehole drilling with village maintenance trainingSub-Saharan Africa

SAPA WASH Program - Water Well Drilling

$0
Per Person / Yr

The Sudanese American Physicians Association drills standard and deep borehole wells across Africa through its WASH Program. Standard boreholes or hand-dug wells range from $5,000 to $15,000, while deep wells up to 900 feet exceed $20,000. Projects include forming village water committees for maintenance.

Lifespan20 Years
Setup CapEx$0 / person
Target AreaSub-Saharan Africa
Scout Auditor Audit Note

[Original Cost: $5,000 to $15,000 (USD)] Without maintenance, 30-50% of wells fail within five years. Community maintenance training adds $500-$1,000 per project but is critical for ensuring wells last 20+ years. Deep wells in arid regions access stable aquifers and can serve large communities for decades.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
Sawyer PointONE Household Filtration (Scout Verification)
Rank AGeneralOceania

Sawyer PointONE Household Filtration (Scout Verification)

$1
Per Person / Yr

Distribution of hollow-fiber membrane point-of-use gravity filtration kits to remote households in rural areas prone to bacterial waterborne disease outbreaks.

Lifespan10 Years
Setup CapEx$2 / person
Target AreaFiji (+1)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

[Original Cost: $45 per kit (USD)] Provides immediate, biological safety. Extremely low maintenance and high lifespan make it perfect for remote households, though it requires community training to ensure proper backwashing.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
Splash
Rank AWater filtration, handwashing stations, hygiene educationAsia & Africa

Splash

$3
Per Person / Yr

Brings clean water and safe sanitation to children in urban poverty across eight countries, targeting schools and urban areas.

Lifespan10 Years
Setup CapEx$25 / person
Target AreaIndia (+2)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Innovative urban focus, but less rural reach.

Min. Donation: $25
Donate Direct
Splash - Urban Water and Sanitation for Children
Rank BWater filtration and hygiene in schoolsSub-Saharan Africa, South Asia

Splash - Urban Water and Sanitation for Children

$2
Per Person / Yr

Splash provides clean water and safe sanitation to children in urban poverty settings, focusing on schools and institutions. Serves in 8 countries, targeting urban slum areas rather than rural villages. Installs water filtration and handwashing stations.

Lifespan5 Years
Setup CapEx$10 / person
Target AreaEthiopia (+7)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Effective urban focus with institutional delivery (schools). High impact on children's health. Needs ongoing maintenance and supplies.

Min. Donation: $20
Donate Direct
The Water Project
Rank AWell drilling, sand dams, spring protectionSub-Saharan Africa

The Water Project

$1
Per Person / Yr

Builds wells, sand dams, and rainwater systems in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on broken well repairs and local partnerships.

Lifespan20 Years
Setup CapEx$20 / person
Target AreaKenya (+2)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Targets underserved areas with sustainable solutions, but scale is limited.

Min. Donation: $10
Donate Direct
The Water Project - Wells & Rainwater Harvesting in Africa
Rank BWell drilling, sand dams, rainwater collection, spring protectionSub-Saharan Africa

The Water Project - Wells & Rainwater Harvesting in Africa

$3
Per Person / Yr

Builds new wells, fixes broken ones, installs sand dams, rainwater collection, and spring protection in sub-Saharan Africa. Partners with local leaders.

Lifespan12 Years
Setup CapEx$25 / person
Target AreaKenya (+4)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Focuses on rural communities, but scale is smaller.

Min. Donation: $10
Donate Direct
UNICEF WASH Programs
Rank CWell drilling, water purification, hygiene kits, latrines

UNICEF WASH Programs

$35
Per Person (One-off)

UNICEF provides safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services in over 100 countries, reaching vulnerable communities with emergency water delivery, handwashing stations, and latrines.

Lifespan1 Years
One-off Cost$35 / person
Target AreaGlobal
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Large-scale UN agency with massive reach. During COVID-19 reached nearly 74 million people. Proven effectiveness in both emergency and development contexts.

Min. Donation: $50
Donate Direct
Village Drill Deep Well Drilling (Scout Verification)
Rank AGeneralSub-Saharan Africa

Village Drill Deep Well Drilling (Scout Verification)

$1
Per Person / Yr

Vetted borehole drilling projects utilizing the physical human-powered Village Drill system to reach clean water aquifers at depths of up to 80 meters without heavy logistics overhead.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$4 / person
Target AreaKenya (+2)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

[Original Cost: $3,500 total per well (USD)] Extremely high cost-effectiveness for rural Sub-Saharan African communities. The equipment is highly mobile and doesn't require heavy machinery roads, dramatically cutting mobilization costs.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
Water.org
Rank CMicrofinance Loans

Water.org

$2
Per Person / Yr

Water.org provides small, affordable loans to families for water and sanitation connections. Co-founded by Matt Damon, the organization empowers households to finance their own water solutions, reaching millions with sustainable, market-based approach. Operates globally.

Lifespan10 Years
Setup CapEx$50 / person
Target AreaKenya (+10)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Microfinance model leverages local markets and can scale with donor funding.

USA Tax DeductibleUK Tax DeductibleAustralia Tax DeductibleCanada Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
Water4 - Well Drilling & WASH Training
Rank CWell drilling and WASH educationSub-Saharan Africa

Water4 - Well Drilling & WASH Training

$3
Per Person / Yr

Water4 provides safe water through drilled wells and WASH training. As of 2025, completed 9,518 water projects and provided safe water to over 2.1 million people. Uses a sustainable local business model and emphasizes hygiene education and community ownership.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$40 / person
Target AreaKenya (+5)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Sustainable model with local entrepreneurship. Combines infrastructure with behavior change. Projects in several African countries.

Min. Donation: $25
Donate Direct
Water4 - Well Drilling and Community Training
Rank BWell Drilling and Hygiene EducationGlobal (developing countries)

Water4 - Well Drilling and Community Training

$2
Per Person / Yr

Water4 completes water projects using local entrepreneurs and provides WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) training. They focus on sustainable, locally-owned solutions.

Lifespan10 Years
Setup CapEx$20 / person
Target AreaGlobal (developing countries)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Water4's approach builds local ownership, which can improve long-term sustainability.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
Water4 Community-Driven Water Projects
Rank AHand pumps, solar-powered systems, hygiene trainingSub-Saharan Africa

Water4 Community-Driven Water Projects

$2
Per Person / Yr

Water4 uses a sustainable, local approach to end the water crisis. They train local entrepreneurs to build and maintain water systems, completed 9,518 projects serving over 2.1 million people.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$20 / person
Target AreaUganda (+2)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Focuses on exit strategy and local ownership rather than ongoing charity. Strong emphasis on business models and hygiene education.

Min. Donation: $15
Donate Direct
WaterAid
Rank AInfrastructureOceania & Asia-Pacific

WaterAid

$1
Per Person / Yr

Builds sustainable water systems (piped systems, wells) in rural and urban communities across more than 30 countries. Focuses on long-term maintenance and local partnerships.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$18 / person
Target AreaPapua New Guinea (+13)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Exceptional sustainability rating. Endorsed by the Australian government with full DGR status. Ensures deep community ownership and local technical capacity.

USA Tax DeductibleUK Tax DeductibleAustralia Tax DeductibleCanada Tax DeductibleIreland Tax DeductibleSouth Africa Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: $2
Donate Direct
Wells of Life - Well Drilling in Uganda
Rank BWell drillingSub-Saharan Africa

Wells of Life - Well Drilling in Uganda

$2
Per Person / Yr

Provides potable water by drilling wells in Uganda. Collaborates with local communities and drilling teams.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$25 / person
Target AreaUganda
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Narrow geographic focus, but measurable impact.

Min. Donation: $50
Donate Direct
Wells of Life Well Drilling in Uganda
Rank BWell DrillingSub-Saharan Africa

Wells of Life Well Drilling in Uganda

$3
Per Person / Yr

Drills wells in Uganda to provide clean water to rural communities.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$35 / person
Target AreaUganda
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Specific focus on Uganda; wells have high functionality rate with local collaboration.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
WHOlives Village Drill Well - Dodoma Tanzania
Rank AWell Drilling (Village Drill)Dodoma

WHOlives Village Drill Well - Dodoma Tanzania

$1
Per Person / Yr

Arid-zone deep well in Dodoma, Tanzania, drilled using the low-logistics Village Drill system. Provides water to 180 families (~900 people) who contribute small monthly payments to maintain the system, bypassing regular handpump breakdown problems.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$5 / person
Target AreaTanzania
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Drilled in an arid zone where the first Village Drill prototype was tested. Strong community ownership through minor subscription fees enables local mechanics to replace wearing seals promptly.

USA Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: $30
Donate Direct
WHOlives Village Drill Well - Eastern Uganda
Rank AWell Drilling (Village Drill)Eastern Uganda

WHOlives Village Drill Well - Eastern Uganda

$1
Per Person / Yr

Clean water borehole in Sironko District, Eastern Uganda. Taps highly protected groundwater tables using a portable Village Drill, serving 140 families (~700 people). Co-funded by the local community to create micro-entrepreneur maintenance jobs and ensure hardware lifespan.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$6 / person
Target AreaUganda
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Leverages local microfinance co-payments to avoid the 'broken charity pump' failure trap. High-efficiency manual drilling cuts installation cost, leading to extreme cost-effectiveness per person.

USA Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: $30
Donate Direct
WHOlives Village Drill Well - Western Kenya
Rank AWell Drilling (Village Drill)Western Kenya

WHOlives Village Drill Well - Western Kenya

$1
Per Person / Yr

A community-supported deep borehole well in Western Kenya using the manual hybrid Village Drill system to access deep aquifers. Serves 160 families (~800 people) with continuous, safe water, eliminating FGM risks and biological waterborne pathogens. Managed by local village water committee.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$6 / person
Target AreaKenya
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Highly cost-effective rural borehole well utilizing low-logistics manual drilling to avoid heavy rig transport. Employs a self-sustaining co-payment maintenance model yielding excellent long-term hardware survival rates.

USA Tax Deductible
Min. Donation: $30
Donate Direct
World Bank WASH Program - Eastern and Southern Africa
Rank BClimate-Resilient WASH InfrastructureSub-Saharan Africa

World Bank WASH Program - Eastern and Southern Africa

$4
Per Person / Yr

A $1.58 billion program to accelerate access to climate-resilient water supply, sanitation, and hygiene for 30 million people across 12 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$53 / person
Target AreaEastern and Southern Africa (12 countries)
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Large-scale government program with significant funding, but efficiency depends on implementation.

Min. Donation: Any amount
Donate Direct
World Vision Water
Rank ADrilling wells, piped systems, sanitation

World Vision Water

$3
Per Person / Yr

Provides clean water access to a new person every ten seconds through wells, piped systems, and hygiene programs in developing countries.

Lifespan15 Years
Setup CapEx$35 / person
Target AreaGlobal
Scout Auditor Audit Note

Large-scale reach, but organizational overhead may be higher.

Min. Donation: $20
Donate Direct