WaterHarvest
WaterHarvest is a UK charity, founded 1987 and closing in 2027, that funds rainwater harvesting infrastructure — eco-block school tanks in Uganda, rehabilitated dugouts in Ghana, and historic programmes in India — for remote rural communities through local NGO partners, financed entirely by donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersWinchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WaterHarvest does
WaterHarvest is a UK-registered charity (founded 1987, originally as Wells for India) that delivers rainwater harvesting programmes to remote rural communities in developing countries. Its operations have historically spanned India (where it ceased direct activity in 2023 following handover to sister organisation Water Wisdom Foundation) and now centre on Ghana and Uganda, with active programmes including multi-year school eco-block roof rainwater harvesting tank installations in Uganda's Masaka District and dugout rehabilitation with women-run water treatment centres in Ghana's North-East Gonja District. Cumulative reach across roughly 2,000 villages is cited at 2.3 million people helped over the charity's 40-year history. The core technology portfolio consists of physical water harvesting infrastructure: eco-block roof rainwater harvesting structures (RRWHS), underground taankas, expanded and vetiver-stabilised dugouts, chauka trench-and-bund land rejuvenation systems, drip and sprinkler irrigation, and handpumps mounted on rooftop tanks to prevent contamination.
The business model is donation- and grant-funded, not commercial. WaterHarvest has no priced products; revenue consists entirely of voluntary contributions from individual supporters (one-time, direct debit, standing order) and grants from trusts and foundations such as the Monsoon Accessorize Trust. Go-to-market is community-led: programmes are designed in the UK (HQ registered office in Winchester, with the team home-based across London and the South East) and delivered through deeply embedded local NGO partners — Saha Global in Ghana, MADLACC in Uganda, and historically Tarun Bharat Sangh, Samerth Trust, URMUL and others in India. Marketing and fundraising run through the charity's website, MailChimp e-newsletters, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), crowdfunding platforms (GlobalGiving, Virgin Money Giving), annual reviews, and earned media.
WaterHarvest's Board has formally decided to close the charity during its 40th anniversary year in 2027; the UK office is scheduled to close in December 2026 and donations are requested to cease from 1 July 2026. The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Fiona Beukes, with Nicola Floyd (MBA; formerly investment banking, then a maternal health charity) serving as CEO since April 2019. Water Wisdom Foundation continues the India work independently under FCRA registration, and operational continuity in Ghana and Uganda rests with Saha Global and MADLACC respectively.
WaterHarvest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WaterHarvest
- Legal name
- WaterHarvest
- Website
- https://water-harvest.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- WaterHarvest is a UK charity, founded 1987 and closing in 2027, that funds rainwater harvesting infrastructure — eco-block school tanks in Uganda, rehabilitated dugouts in Ghana, and historic programmes in India — for remote rural communities through local NGO partners, financed entirely by donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WaterHarvest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water and Sanitation Non-Profit Services
- NAICS
- Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Water Source Development & Intake Systems (Wells, Boreholes, Intakes) (AFAAACAI), Water Reuse & Reclamation Infrastructure Construction (Recycled Water Systems) (IMAFAGAH)
Keywords
Where WaterHarvest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
WaterHarvest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: WaterHarvest relies entirely on donations from supporters to deliver its work. The charity has a great community of supporters who want to make a difference. They accept one-time donations, direct debits, and standing orders. The UK office will close in December 2026 and donations are requested to stop from July 1 2026 onwards.
- Grant Funding: WaterHarvest receives funding from grant awarding bodies for specific programmes. They have worked with trusts such as the Monsoon Accessorize Trust and other charitable foundations to fund water harvesting programmes.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
WaterHarvest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WaterHarvest is a UK-registered charity that builds rainwater harvesting infrastructure for remote, climate-affected communities in developing countries. Its programmes include school rainwater harvesting tanks in Uganda, dugout rehabilitation in Ghana, and historically rainwater harvesting structures (RRWHS), taankas, and chaukas in India, supported by water treatment centres and drip irrigation systems for smallholder farmers.
Product overview
WaterHarvest is a UK charity that has worked for almost 40 years harvesting rainwater to improve lives in remote communities. The organization operates a portfolio of rainwater harvesting solutions consisting of School Rainwater Harvesting Tanks in Uganda (eco-block roof harvesting tanks at schools), Dugout Renovation in Ghana (expansion and rehabilitation of large water dugouts with associated water treatment centres run by local women), and Rainwater Harvesting Structures in India (roof rainwater harvesting systems, taankas underground tanks, and chaukas for land regeneration). Supporting services include water treatment and distribution centers operating on a social enterprise model and drip irrigation systems for farmers. The organization is closing in 2027, its 40th anniversary year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- School Rainwater Harvesting Tanks in Uganda Multi-year school tank programme that builds eco-block rainwater roof harvesting tanks at schools to provide clean drinking water for pupils and staff. The first programme completed in July 2025 built 107 tanks at 22 schools supporting over 10,000 pupils and staff; a second programme began in November 2025 building 37 tanks at 10 schools.
- Dugout Renovation in Ghana Expansion and rehabilitation of large water dugouts that supply clean drinking water to rural communities. Addresses climate change impacts where dugouts dry out for months per year. Includes planting of vetiver grass and trees to reduce evaporation, and water treatment centres run by local women to supply clean water year-round.
- Rainwater Harvesting Structures in India Roof rainwater harvesting structures (RRWHS), taankas (underground tanks), and chaukas (trenches and bunds for pasture land regeneration) built for remote arid communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Final programme completed in Dudu District, Rajasthan in late 2024.
- Water Treatment and Distribution Centres Small water treatment businesses run by local women that supply clean drinking water collected from dugouts to remote rural villages in Ghana, operating on a social enterprise model where revenue stays in the community.
- Drip Irrigation Systems Sprinkler and drip irrigation systems installed for smallholder farmers to improve water efficiency in agriculture, enabling better crop yields and income. Implemented as rotating funds programme where farmers repay costs after income rises.
Quantifiable outcome
- 26% increase in school enrolment and 23% increase in girl's attendance in Ugandan schools with tanks installed
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use WaterHarvest
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
WaterHarvest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
WaterHarvest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Water Wisdom Foundation (WFF)coreSister organisation established by WaterHarvest in India. Former Country Director Om Prakash joined WWF in 2024 to manage future local water harvesting programmes. WWF is able to raise funds from donors living in India and has received FCRA registration to receive funds from abroad. This organisation continues the work previously funded by WaterHarvest in India.
- Masaka District Land Care Chapter (MADLACC)coreLocal NGO partner in Uganda supporting WaterHarvest's school rainwater harvesting programme. MADLACC has been instrumental in delivering the programme at 22 schools in the Masaka region.
- Saha GlobalcoreSaha Global is WaterHarvest's key partner in Ghana, working to renovate and expand dugouts and support female-run water treatment businesses. Saha Global has partnered with 1,123 women entrepreneurs to provide safe water access to 127,195 people across 400 villages in Ghana. WaterHarvest funds Saha Global to set up water treatment centres and renovate dugouts.
- Prayas Kendra SansthanminorPartner NGO holding online meetings with village groups and beneficiaries during COVID-19 pandemic.
- GRAVISminorPartner in the Thar Desert that collaborated on International Women's Day initiatives including providing bicycles for 70 girls to attend senior school.
- MSSminorPartner providing training for farmers on drip irrigation systems as part of the crowdfunding campaign for 18 farmers.
- GVNMLminorPartner for the Revive and Thrive appeal working on Chauka systems to regenerate degraded community pasture land in the Tonk District of Rajasthan.
- Samerth Trust (SCT)corePartnership began in 2017 to tackle water security issues in the Kutch district of Gujarat. Constructed 73 roof rainwater harvesting systems in Dholavira village and worked on drought mitigation.
- Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS)corePartnership formed in October 2014 to tackle water security for marginalized communities of Rajasthan. Working across five villages (Raipura, Bhaal, Gopalpura, Govindpura and Jaitpura) and later 30 additional villages in the Arvari, Sarsa and Bhagani basin. TBS was commended by the United Nations in the World Water Development Report 2018 for their low-cost community-led landscape approaches.
- URMULminorPartner in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan working on water harvesting programmes with emphasis on women's empowerment and girls' education.
- PKScorePartner operating in the Sambhar Salt Lake Region that installs handpumps on rooftop rainwater harvesting structures and raises awareness of water security through school children.
- Sahyog SansthancorePartner NGO that constructed 13 anicuts and 1330 loose stone check dams over the period 2006-2011 in the Gangeshwar Watershed project near Udaipur.
- AFPROcoreHistorical partner with whom WaterHarvest (then Wells for India) built their first dam in Ramnagar village in 1991. The dam was designed by WaterHarvest's India Director Om Prakash Sharma.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights3 records
WaterHarvest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- charity: water: US-based WASH non-profit funding clean water access in developing countries through partner-led implementation. Directly comparable model: donor-funded, partners deliver, focuses on community water infrastructure.
- WaterAid: One of the largest international WASH NGOs, operating in similar geographies (Africa, South Asia) with comparable community-led water access programmes. The most direct strategic peer to WaterHarvest, though operating at materially larger scale.
- Water Mission: Engineering-focused WASH non-profit operating in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable community-led water infrastructure delivery (rural water systems, household filtration) and donor-funded charity model.
- Saha Global: WaterHarvest's actual implementation partner in Ghana, running women-led water treatment businesses serving rural villages. Operates a directly overlapping model in the same communities with the same beneficiary base.
- Water for People: International WASH non-profit working in nine countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Comparable donor-funded, partner-implemented approach to sustainable water access in rural communities.
Others
- Water Witness International: UK-registered charity focused on water governance, accountability, and WASH systems rather than direct infrastructure delivery. Comparable thematic focus on water security in developing countries but an advocacy/system-change angle rather than direct implementation.
Broad incumbents
- Water.org: Founded by Matt Damon, focuses on water and sanitation access through microfinance and partnerships in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. Larger and more established, with a financial-sustainability angle that overlaps with WaterHarvest's social-enterprise water kiosk model.
Regional players
- WaterAid India: India-focused arm of WaterAid working on WASH in rural Indian communities. Regionally comparable to WaterHarvest's historic India programme, now replaced by Water Wisdom Foundation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WaterHarvest social profiles
Digital presenceWaterHarvest compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
WaterHarvest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WaterHarvest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
WaterHarvest subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
WaterHarvest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WaterHarvest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WaterHarvest
What does WaterHarvest do?
WaterHarvest is a UK-registered charity that builds rainwater harvesting infrastructure for remote, climate-affected communities in developing countries. Its programmes include school rainwater harvesting tanks in Uganda, dugout rehabilitation in Ghana, and historically rainwater harvesting structures (RRWHS), taankas, and chaukas in India, supported by water treatment centres and drip irrigation systems for smallholder farmers.
Is WaterHarvest a public or private company?
WaterHarvest is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WaterHarvest founded?
WaterHarvest was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is WaterHarvest based?
WaterHarvest is headquartered in Winchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does WaterHarvest make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are grant Funding.
Who are WaterHarvest's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are charity: water, WaterAid, Water Mission, Saha Global and Water for People. Water Witness International is listed as an others. Water.org is listed as a broad incumbent. WaterAid India is listed as a regional player.
Does WaterHarvest have an API?
No public API is recorded for WaterHarvest.
What industry is WaterHarvest in?
WaterHarvest's product category is Water and Sanitation Non-Profit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAC, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), with a secondary code of BPAGAGAK, Water Resources & Watershed Protection. Its NAICS code is 2213 and its SIC code is 4941.