How did you start your day today? With a shower, followed by a hot drink perhaps? You may have washed up your breakfast bowl, gone to the toilet and washed your hands to set yourself up for the day.

We depend on clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene so much while going about our everyday routines to help us keep clean, comfortable and healthy. But can you imagine how different life would be without these three things?

That's the reality for millions of people we work for and with, who are living in poverty and excluded from mainstream services. Without clean water, people – often women and girls – have no choice but to walk long distances to fetch and drink dirty water. This impacts their health, their education and their livelihoods. And climate change is making their situation worse; every day, already fragile water supplies are at even greater risk of disappearing completely.

It might not seem obvious that the three go hand in hand. But without decent toilets, water sources can become contaminated. And without clean water, we can’t have good hygiene practices that stop the spread of disease. 

We’re not here for short-term fixes. With local communities we find sustainable solutions so that people can change their lives for good. Will you help us get there?

Supporters like you have helped us reach over 28.5 million people with clean water around the world, but we won’t stop until everyone, everywhere has it.

WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari

It’s a little-known fact that 1 in 5 people don't have their own toilet. Slowly, we're making progress, but with your help, we can speed things up.

WaterAid/ Fabeha Monir

Together with clean water and decent toilets, good hygiene practices can dramatically improve – and even save – people’s lives.

Amina (10) washes their face outside of the community toilet block in Dhaka, Bangladesh. November 24, 2021.
WaterAid/ Drik/ Tapash Paul

We work with communities who've been hit hardest by climate change to make sure they have a reliable supply of water and decent toilets, whatever the weather.

WaterAid/ James Kiyimba

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by a lack of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.

WaterAid/ Srishti Bhardwaj

Millions of people don’t have access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. Read the numbers and find out more about our work.

WaterAid/ Basile Ouedraogo