Customers of Bristol Water and Wessex Water have raised more than £25 million for WaterAid since 1990 after adding £1.1 million in donations last year.
This generous contribution in 2024 is enough to provide clean water to more than 51,700 people, helping to improve global access to clean water.
With World Water Day this month, it serves as a reminder that through the support of these donations, WaterAid has been able to work alongside communities around the world to bring clean water to people facing severe challenges.
This support has enabled WaterAid to make a meaningful difference in regions like Mangochi District, Malawi, where communities are grappling with extreme drought, food insecurity, and the devastating aftermath of a cholera outbreak.
Thanks to the dedication of Bristol and Wessex Water customers, WaterAid is partnering with local organisations to bring clean, reliable water to the area. Just one example is a project including a solar-powered water system, ensuring a steady supply of water to the local primary school and surrounding communities.
Sileni, a 33-year-old mother from Mangochi, shared the life-changing impact the new water system has had on her community. She said: “The past was a time of hardship. Life was hard then. But now there is water nearby. When the children come back from school and are doing their household chores, they can just draw however much water they need at that moment, and then go and do whatever they want afterwards.”
Dani Twelvetree, Bristol Water’s WaterAid Co-Chair, said: “We are incredibly proud of the support our customers have provided to WaterAid. The positive impact their contributions have made is truly remarkable. Access to clean water is essential to health and wellbeing, and our customers are helping to make a lasting difference in communities that need it most.”
Andy Pymer, Wessex Water’s WaterAid Chair, said: “This is a huge achievement and my thanks goes out to all of our customers who have supported WaterAid over the last 35 years, along with our employees who have given up their time outside of work to coordinate fundraising efforts. Everyone in the world has a right to clean and reliable water, and the funds raised go towards some amazing projects that are truly changing lives.”
The installation of this new water system means that women and girls no longer have to spend hours walking long distances to collect dirty water, enabling them to focus on education, work, and their families.
For more information on how you can support WaterAid and contribute to their life-changing work, visit WaterAid's website.
(Photo credit: WaterAid/Sophie Harris-Taylor)
