Clean Water

Clean Water is one of The Salvation Army International Development UK's five areas of work.

We are working with communities around the world to access clean water and improved sanitation. 

The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom and Ireland territory supports Clean Water projects around the world, including spring protection in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the construction of school toilets in Malawi and the installation of rainwater harvesting tanks in Kenya.

By improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities, The Salvation Army is supporting communities to become healthier and more able to use their time and skills on education and income generation activities.

Nduumoni, Kenya

Agnes Titus lives in Nduumoni, a rural settlement in eastern Kenya, where she is raising her children. For years, she relied on limited and irregular sources of income, making it difficult to provide for her family and keep her children in school. Although she had ambitions to start a business, a lack of capital meant those plans remained out of reach.  

This began to change through The Salvation Army’s economic empowerment work. As part of the project, Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), also known as self-help groups, were established. In these groups, members contribute small amounts of money regularly to create a shared fund, from which they can take out loans and repay them with a small amount of interest, allowing the fund to grow.  

Through her participation in the Tumaini Self-Help Group, Agnes accessed a loan of 1,800 Kenyan Shillings (approximately £10). With it, she started a small kiosk business at nearby Chewa Market, selling vegetables she grows herself.  

VSLAs are just one part of a wider, holistic response to the complex challenges faced by communities in this region.  

The Salvation Army in the Kenya East Territory has long worked alongside communities in eastern Kenya, where arid and semi-arid conditions make daily life challenging. Prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall have led to severe water shortages, with women and children often walking long distances to collect water from unreliable sources such as dry riverbeds.  

In Makueni County, where Agnes lives, these pressures are particularly acute. Communities rely on rain-fed agriculture, leaving them vulnerable to crop failure, food insecurity and increasing poverty. Climate change has intensified these challenges, with once-permanent rivers now flowing only seasonally. Economic hardship is compounded by limited infrastructure, scarce employment opportunities and lack of access to credit. Many men and young people migrate to urban areas in search of work, leaving women to carry the primary responsibility for securing water, food and income for their families. 

Globally, women and girls spend approximately 200 million hours every day collecting water. This reality is reflected in Kalumbi, where many women face the relentless burden of fetching water. Often they must scoop water from beneath the sand – a labour-intensive and time-consuming task that only results in unsafe drinking water.  

The introduction of sand dam technology is helping to change this. 

Sand dams are built across seasonal rivers using concrete or stone. They capture and store sand during the rainy season, creating a natural reservoir. This protects water from evaporation and contamination, providing a reliable and sustainable source of clean water throughout the year.  

A shallow well and hand pump, alongside the sand dam, allows communities to access water stored within the sand. This has significantly reduced the time spent collecting water and improved overall wellbeing. 

For Agnes, this reliable access to water has been transformative. She is now able to grow vegetables using this improved water source, which she sells through her kiosk to generate a steady income. Today, Agnes enjoys greater financial independence, a more stable household income and improved food security. The combined impact of clean water access, savings groups and livelihood support has strengthened her family’s resilience to climate shocks. She now hopes to expand her business further, increase profits, and continue providing education and a better life for her children.

Areas of Work

We work alongside communities in the areas of Anti-Trafficking, Clean Water, Emergency Response, Food Security, and Women and Girls to support them to overcome poverty and injustice. We are also responsible for overseeing the transfer of funds for the UK’s Mission Support Allocation (money donated through the annual Self-Denial Appeal).