Difficulties Accessing Clean Water

In many rural communities across Pakistan, families and schools have access to water, but not to water that is safe to drink. They rely on open ponds, shallow wells, streams and ageing hand pumps, many of which are contaminated. With no alternative available, this water is used for drinking, cooking and washing.

A solar-powered water supply offers a sustainable solution. This project will bring safe drinking water directly to a school, drawing clean water from deep underground and powering the process entirely through sunlight.

Who is Affected

The impact of unsafe water falls hardest on the most vulnerable. Young children are particularly at risk, as repeated illness from contaminated water can lead to stunting, a condition affecting almost 44 percent of children in Pakistan.

Women and girls carry much of the daily burden. Where there is no water at home, women and girls aged 15 and over are primarily responsible for collecting it in seven out of ten households. These journeys take time away from education, rest, and expose them to risk of injury and harm.

Communities affected by natural disasters face even greater hardship. Six months after the 2022 floods, more than 10 million people in affected areas were still without safe drinking water.

What Is a Solar-Powered School Water Supply?

The scheme uses solar panels to power a submersible pump, drawing groundwater from a bore-well into an elevated storage tank. The water is then filtered and distributed through a dedicated collection point with multiple taps. Producing between 4,000 and 4,500 litres of safe drinking water each day, it will serve up to 1,200 students, teachers and support staff. Built to last for many years and well suited to Pakistan's abundant sunshine, it provides the school with a lasting source of clean water.

The benefits:

• Safe drinking water: Groundwater drawn from a bore-well and passed through a filtration system carries a significantly lower risk of contamination than surface sources.
• Improved health: Access to clean water reduces cases of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases among children.
• Better attendance: Healthier children miss fewer school days and are better able to focus on their learning.
• No running costs: As the pump is powered by the sun, the school is not burdened with the ongoing cost of fuel or electricity.
• Reliability: The system operates independently of fuel deliveries and electricity networks.
• Environmental sustainability: Solar power produces no emissions and requires no fossil fuels.

Help Us Bring Clean Water to a School

Your donation, whatever the amount, will help us raise £4,000 to build a solar-powered water supply and provide a school in Pakistan with a lasting source of clean and safe drinking water.