Our history

We started because no charity like us existed. We'll end when no charity like us is needed. Thanks to amazing supporters like you, this is our story.

1981

The Thirsty Third World Conference brings members of the UK water industry together. They decide to unite, to reach the millions of people living without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.

1981

WaterAid is officially established on July 21, 1981. Our first projects start in Zambia and Sri Lanka.

1985

We’re working with local partners in ten countries.

1988

Your suport has helped us to reach 350,000 people.

1993

We begin work on our 1,000th project We fund the Hitosa Gravity Scheme, the largest single water supply scheme in Ethiopia, reaching 50,000 people.

1994

Our first advocacy report, Mega-slums: The coming sanitary crisis, is released.

1996

Our presence in Pakistan goes back to 1996 through our long term implementation support to our partners working in water and sanitation programmes in the country.

1999

Thanks to amazing people like you and our partners around the world, we've enabled over six million people to build a better life.

2000

Thanks to amazing people like you and our partners around the world, we've enabled over six million people to build a better life.

2000

Alongside other groups, we successfully lobby to get sanitation added to the list of MDGs.

2002

The UN declares clean water a human right.

2003

We're now working in 15 countries.

2006

WaterAid establishes its first office in Pakistan.

2008

The UN declares an International Year of Sanitation. With toilets still a neglected topic, we address the UN commission for sustainable development, highlighting their importance.

2009

We've reached 13.4 million people with clean water and 8.1 million with decent toilets.

2010

Access to decent toilets is declared a human right.

2010

WaterAid international is founded, to help country members and programmes within the WaterAid federation work together effectively and efficiently.

2015

In May, we launch an ambitious new global strategy to reach everyone, everywhere with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.

2016-2017

We reached over 77,000 people with clean water, 200,000 with decent toilets and 22,000 with good hygiene.