Our history

WaterAid UK started work on access to water in southern India.

Our focus was rehabilitation and revival of defunct hand pumps.

We started guiding and supporting communities to manage water points, such as hand pumps to ensure lasting access to water. 

We widened our work -- from focussing on only water to an integrated approach towards WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene). 

We expanded our reach from southern India to states in central and north India, with a focus on marginalised communities. 

We demonstrated replicable models for clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene with government programmes to scale-up impact.

For continued water access, we empowered communities to know their rights and supported them to participate in the development of policies and practices.

WaterAid India reached 536,266 people with water access and 353,144 with sanitation, prioritizing marginalised groups such as Dalits, Adivasis, and the urban poor. In Bihar, it supported state water and sanitation policies, while in Jharkhand, 72 communities demanded WASH rights, ensuring water for 98,330 and sanitation for 89,867 people. Village Water Security Plans were developed in Andhra Pradesh, and Hyderabad initiated uniform water quality tracking.

WaterAid India supported Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh in creating operational manuals for Jalsahiyas while reorganising village institutions to integrate WASH, health, and nutrition. In Chhattisgarh, Ambikapur's slipped-back Panchayats were revived for total sanitation. The Uttar Pradesh water and sanitation policy was developed with WaterAid’s assistance. Interventions included the restoration of 159 water facilities and 673 new water sources.  The People Panchayat Partnership (PPP) model, piloted in Uttar Pradesh, trained youth as hand pump mechanics, addressing water system challenges in Bundelkhand villages effectively. Over 1.1 million individuals were reached with improved water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

WaterAid India reached 465,809 water users, 373,874 sanitation users, and 732,546 hygiene users in the year. Of the 774 water sources supported, 34 were new, and 740 were rehabilitated, with all sources tested for quality using government field kits. In Nuapada, Odisha, fluoride-affected villages formed VWSCs to manage water security, including fee collection and source maintenance. Andhra Pradesh’s fluoride mitigation project empowered communities to test and demand action on water quality. 

As part of Cyclone Phailin rehabilitation, 734 water sources were cleaned and disinfected. Additionally, 36 Village Water Security Plans were developed across Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh to ensure sustainable management.

During the year, WaterAid India trained 15,655 local government leaders, 25,344 members of local institutions, 24,705 frontline workers, 4,993 teachers, and 3,293 school management committee members on WASH. Technical inputs were provided to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for rolling out Water and Sanitation Guidelines. WaterAid engaged with national WASH institutions and co-hosted the South Asia Conference on Food and Nutrition Security, highlighting the integration of WASH in nutrition programming. Across its operational areas, 195 user committees with 3,598 members and 24,344 VWSC members were trained on resource management and maintenance of water sources. 

Integrated WASH plans for 81 villages were developed, and 56,755 members of community institutions were engaged in participatory planning. Overall, WaterAid reached 6,81,564 water users, 8,92,230 sanitation users, and 24,76,638 hygiene users.

WaterAid India supported Andhra Pradesh’s Department of Education in creating comprehensive guidelines for the operation and maintenance of WASH infrastructure in schools. Community mobilisation efforts reached 7,03,925 people with water access, 1,123,180 with sanitation, and 1,887,253 with hygiene education. Training programs engaged 10,730 local government members, 26,137 frontline workers, 7,371 schoolteachers, 5,601 masons, and 15,566 government officials on WASH services. 

WaterAid led campaigns advocating WASH as a fundamental right for children and the homeless and supported SDG Goal 6. Films on water conservation and sanitation were produced in collaboration with central ministries and broadcast nationally.

WaterAid India reached over 603,000 people with access to water, 1.17 million with sanitation, and 1.63 million with hygiene education across 11 states and 43 districts. Key initiatives include supporting Madhya Pradesh's "Nal se Jal, Aaj aur Kal" campaign, leveraging INR 12.2 million in 74 Gram Panchayats, and collaborating with Network18 on their Jal Daan campaign.
The MoU with the State Government of Bihar was a critical milestone. Jal Choupal as a platform for participatory planning was recognised by the state government as a successful model.

WaterAid India’s baseline assessment highlighted the need to improve water services and address sustainability and quality gaps. In Madhya Pradesh, support was provided to form Drinking Water Committees and train them. Training on water quality monitoring was conducted in multiple states. Key outcomes include 2,701 households with piped water, 272 schools with handwashing systems, and 197 trained Para hydrologists. Jal Chaupal was implemented in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to promote community-led water conservation.

WaterAid India focused on village-level water quality monitoring and functionality studies in Nuapada (Odisha), Sehore, Dindori (Madhya Pradesh), and Kanker (Chhattisgarh). Significant rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge measures were implemented in 17 of 24 rural projects. The organisation reached 117,403 people with water, 321,990 with sanitation, and 437,130 with hygiene. It supported Bihar’s PHED with an assessment of 13 water supply systems, including arsenic, fluoride, and iron removal plants. 

Water testing kits were provided in Kanker, Sehore, and Dindori, training of Self help group members to strengthen decentralised water quality monitoring.

WaterAid India promoted 750 rainwater and conservation structures in 85 Gram Panchayats and four cities, leveraging government support in Banda and Kanker districts to restore 2,500 field ponds and create 5,000 rainwater harvesting structures. This resulted in 4 million cubic meters of recharge capacity and an INR 300 million investment. Water security plans were initiated in 12 districts, and 10,000 water samples were tested by trained women leaders. 

WaterAid's advocacy led to the inclusion of rainwater harvesting systems in Uttar Pradesh's hospitals. In Bihar, 1,000 families received WASH resources during flood response.WaterAid India reached out to 4,81,161 people with water, 3,46,338 people with sanitation and 4,37,130 people with hygiene.

Through the "Sustainable Access to Safe Water" project, supported by WaterAid America and PepsiCo Foundation, WaterAid India reached 284,000 people in Nelamangala, Palakkad, and Sri City, providing WASH services and promoting behavior change. The project also created water harvesting and recharge structures with a total capacity of 2 million cubic meters. In Karnataka, 371 rainwater harvesting structures were built, enhancing recharge capacity by 697,000 cubic meters. WaterAid also supported the development of district and village action plans under the Jal Jeevan Mission, helping secure INR 6.29 billion in funding.

WaterAid India reached 604,692 people with water, 370,673 with sanitation, and 81,400 with hygiene across 13 states and 40 districts. Notable efforts included establishing 30 piped water schemes in West Bengal’s remote villages, providing household-level water supply in Odisha’s tribal areas, and recharging two wells in Chittoor. In Bhadrak, Odisha, nine public water sources were renovated, serving 1,473 people. Additionally, 372 wastewater management models and 100 greywater management structures were developed.

WaterAid India reached 260,383 people with water, 239,533 with sanitation, and 341,485 with hygiene services. It was designated as a thematic lead in the Rural WASH Partners' Forum on Grey Water Management, PWSS, WASH in Institutions, and gender in WASH. WaterAid also supported the Women+ Water Alliance project, improving water access in 40 blocks and 2,400 villages. Additionally, WaterAid constructed the first Rural FSTP in Chhattisgarh for five villages in Patora, Durg.