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Our Impact

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Changing millions of lives around the world with safe water and sanitation

Today more than 73 million people around the world can turn on a tap and safely use a toilet because small, affordable loans empowered them to get access to safe water and sanitation.

We celebrate the lives transformed and realize there is more to be done as we continue our work in 15 countries around the world. In pursuit of our vision of safe water and sanitation for all, we are scaling impact – exploring new regions and market-driven solutions to help end the global water crisis.

We invite you to see how your support changes lives by learning more about the people we help empower, where we work, the magnitude of the global water crisis, and the solutions driving our impact.

73 million lives changed with safe water or sanitation
15 countries where we are changing lives
Woman standing in front of her home in Kenya with three water containers.

Meet the people we help empower

More than 73 million people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America now have access to safe water or sanitation at home and the hope, health, and opportunity they bring.

Read their stories to see how, together, we have transformed lives.

Read stories of impact

We work in 15 countries on 4 continents

In 15 countries on 4 continents around the world, we are turning your generosity into opportunity for families in need.

Learn more about where we work and the impact in each country.

See where we work

Africa

Asia

Latin America

Person carrying a yellow water vessel in front of a teal wall.

The global water crisis affects billions of people

Today, 1 in 4 people lack access to safe water and 2 in 5 people lack access to a safe toilet. We give our everything every day to change this because we believe in the power of water. Access to safe water and sanitation can quickly turn problems into potential – empowering people with time for school and work, and contributing to improved health for families around the world.

We will achieve our vision of safe water and sanitation for all by continuing to unlock more funding than what is currently dedicated to help solve the global water crisis — removing the barriers that stand between people in need and access to safe water and sanitation at home.

Learn about the global water crisis
2.2 billion people lack access to safe water
3.5 billion people lack access to a safe toilet
1 million people die each year from water-related diseases

We serve people living in poverty

Our solutions resonate with people living in poverty — specifically people who have enough income potential to take out a small water or sanitation loan, but who often cannot access the funds at an affordable rate or pay for solutions upfront.

Millions of people who live in the countries where we work live on less than $6.85 a day and spend significant portions of their income to buy water. These are the people we work every day to help empower.

Woman walking down the street carrying an orange water vessel on her left shoulder.
We empower people living on less than $6.85 a day
Two hands exchanging a couple of Indonesian Rupiah bank notes.

Our solutions break down barriers and help people get safe water at home

For millions of people around the world, access to funds stands between them and safe water and sanitation in their homes. Water.org offers a portfolio of smart solutions that break down the barriers between people living in poverty and access to safe water and sanitation.

Our solutions are working! More than half of our total impact was achieved in the past five years alone.

Learn about our smart solutions

Global impact statistics

People reached 73 million

The number of people who now have access to safe water or sanitation and the health and opportunity they bring.

Capital mobilized (USD) $6.4 billion

Our partners mobilize funds from capital markets to provide water and sanitation loans.

Loans disbursed 16.3 million

Our local partners make loans to people in need for life-changing safe water and sanitation solutions.

Number of active partners 171

We work with financial institutions, service providers, international agencies, and governments to make an impact.

Repayment rate 98%

Every repaid loan means another family in need can get affordable access to safe water at home.

Average loan size (USD) $401

Small loans can help make a big difference by providing long-term solutions for families in need around the world.

Percent of women borrowers 90%

Women are primarily responsible for household water collection and are solving the water crisis for their families.

Households living under $6.85/day 85%

We are committed to helping people living in poverty get access to safe water and sanitation solutions at home.

We are reaching more people in need faster with our smart solutions

We continue to change lives by removing the barriers that stand between people and water and toilets. And our impact is scaling.

We’ve changed the lives of more than 73 million people with access to safe water or sanitation through small, affordable loans, more than 9.7 million people in the last year alone.

Join us, and together we can change millions more lives with safe water.

$25 helps one family get access to safe water.

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