Southern Water is very proud to have been a long standing supporter of the International charity WaterAid which works with people in 17 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region to improve their quality of life through lasting improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene education using local skills and practical, sustainable technologies.

884 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly one in eight of the world's population.

2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation, this is almost two fifths of the world's population.

Just £15 can enable one person to access safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation.

This year alone the charity aims to help more than one million people access safe water and more than one 1.5 million access sanitation.

Southern Water, its employees, suppliers and customers have supported WaterAid since its creation in 1981 by organising and taking part in fundraising activities and making donations.

Between 2007 and 2008  Southern Water has been privileged to donate more than £500,000 to WaterAid which will help more than 33,300 of the world’s poorest people with safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

In October 2008, Kevin Buck, Southern Water Communications Officer and current Chairman of the Southern Water WaterAid Committee, received an MBE at Buckingham Palace for his services to the charity.

The Company has since raised further funds hosting  third charity ball in April 2009, with a 'Beside the Seaside' theme. Funds were raised through table sponsorship, casino, raffle ticket sales, an auction hosted by writer and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe and a draw carried out by Olympic silver medallist Roger Black MBE.

A record £10,000 was also raised in July 2009 when 156 golfers took part in the Southern Water annual WaterAid golf event which was celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

In September 2009, Southern Water will be the first in the industry to enter a team in the prestigious Cisco Euro Challenge held in Tromso, Norwary, all proceeds from which will be donated to WaterAid.

Employees also take part in a monthly lottery directly through their salary with cash prizes given every month across the industry.
To make a donation to WaterAid, visit their website at www.wateraid.org/uk/donate or to find out more about WaterAid’s work and other ways you can help, go to www.wateraid.org/uk