Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are vital for living a dignified, healthy life.
Statistics can look stark. 1 in 4 people on the planet don't have a decent toilet of their own. 1 in 10 don't have clean water close to home.
But thanks to your incredible support, we’ve already reached millions of people in some of the toughest places in the world. We can’t stop there.
By working together, we can reach everyone, everywhere within a generation – and transform millions more lives for good.
785 million people in the world – one in ten – do not have clean water close to home.
785 million people in the world – one in ten – do not have clean water close to home.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2019)
2 billion people in the world – almost one in four – do not have a decent toilet of their own.
2 billion people in the world – almost one in four – do not have a decent toilet of their own.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2019)
3 billion people in the world lack basic handwashing facilities that have soap and water.
3 billion people in the world lack basic handwashing facilities that have soap and water.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2019)
31% of schools don’t have clean water.
31% of schools don’t have clean water.
(UNICEF, Advancing WASH in Schools Monitoring, 2015)
Diarrhea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills a child under 5 every 2 minutes.
Diarrhea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills a child under 5 every 2 minutes.
(Prüss-Ustün et al. 2014 and The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2018)
Between 2000 and 2017 the population practicing open defecation halved from 1.3 billion to 673 million. The greatest decrease was seen in Central and Southern Asia.
Between 2000 and 2017 the population practicing open defecation halved from 1.3 billion to 673 million. The greatest decrease was seen in Central and Southern Asia.
(WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2019)
Every $1 invested in water and toilets returns an average of $4 in increased productivity.
Every $1 invested in water and toilets returns an average of $4 in increased productivity.
(WHO, 2012)
The World Bank says promoting good hygiene is one of the most cost-effective health interventions.
The World Bank says promoting good hygiene is one of the most cost-effective health interventions.
(Disease Control Priorities, third edition (volume 2), 2016)
If everyone, everywhere had clean water, the number of diarrheal deaths would be cut by a third.
If everyone, everywhere had clean water, the number of diarrheal deaths would be cut by a third.
(Tropical Medicine and International Health, 2014)
In 2017 to 2018, we reached 1,440,000 people with clean water, 1,424,000 million with decent toilets and 2,581,000 with good hygiene.
In 2017 to 2018, we reached 1,440,000 people with clean water, 1,424,000 million with decent toilets and 2,581,000 with good hygiene.
(WaterAid UK, 2018)
Working with our partners around the world, we reached over 109 people an hour with clean water between 2016 and 2017.
Working with our partners around the world, we reached over 109 people an hour with clean water between 2016 and 2017.
(WaterAid UK, 2017)

Since 1981 we've reached 25.8 million people with clean water and 25.1 million with decent toilets.
Since 1981 we've reached 25.8 million people with clean water and 25.1 million with decent toilets.
(WaterAid UK, 2017)
