What is the Water4 Project?
Water4 is all about building and scaling durable, market-based water businesses called NUMA across Africa. These aren’t your typical charity handouts. Instead, Water4 creates modular, scalable piped water systems that fit any community’s needs. The idea? Instead of just giving water away, customers pay a small fee—about 3 cents from their daily $2 income—for safe, reliable water. This approach helps people move beyond just surviving. They get to focus on building better lives, realizing their potential, and chasing prosperity. No more long hours hauling water, missing school, or battling waterborne diseases. With NUMA, over 700,000 daily customers are reclaiming their time, improving their health, and even starting businesses. It’s a real game-changer.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
Water4’s impact is impressive and measurable. Here’s a quick snapshot:
- 2,644,904 people impacted by safe water all-time
- 1,149,645 individuals educated in WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) & the Gospel
- 21,304 water projects completed to date
- 1,100 local employees maintaining and supporting the water systems
- Hundreds of thousands of customers receiving purified safe water daily
These numbers tell a story of real change—healthier communities, economic growth, and brighter futures.
How Water4 Bridges the Gap
Reliable safe water is more than just a convenience—it’s the foundation of any thriving economy and human flourishing. Yet, millions across Africa still face the heavy cost of disease, long walks for water, and poverty that just won’t quit. Charity and governments combined can only cover about 25% of what’s needed to fix this crisis. That’s where Water4 steps in, proving that business can bridge the gap. By leveraging charity to scale durable water businesses, Water4 offers a sustainable, market-driven solution that actually works.
The NUMA Business Model
NUMA businesses create safe water systems that connect entire regions with reliable, convenient piped water. This removes the burden of hauling unclean water and opens doors for economic flourishing. Customers value the NUMA product because it solves their problems—so they pay for it. This revenue isn’t just profit; it’s reinvested to maintain and expand the systems, employing local workers and ensuring ongoing access to safe water. It’s a cycle of empowerment, not dependency.
Global Partnerships and Support
Water4’s success wouldn’t be possible without its global partners. These long-term collaborators help strategize, learn, and iterate toward greater impact. Their support ensures that Water4 can keep innovating and scaling solutions that last. Plus, Water4 is ECFA accredited, which means it meets high standards in financial management and governance—so donors can trust their gifts are stewarded responsibly.
Project Impact and Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – by reducing waterborne diseases
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – by providing reliable access to safe water
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – through local employment and economic opportunities
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – by serving underserved communities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – through collaboration with global partners
How You Can Help Generate Good
Your support can scale safe water solutions that last. Every gift helps expand these market-based water businesses, bringing clean water and opportunity to more communities. Plus, many employers offer matching gift programs, doubling the impact of donations. It’s a chance to be part of something bigger—generating good that ripples across generations.
