Water1st International

Water1st International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that works to end the daily burden of carrying water by bringing piped water and safe toilets directly into homes in low-income communities. Founded on the insight that the people most affected by water scarcity — particularly women and girls — already know what needs to change, Water1st designs its projects around household water access rather than shared public taps or wells. The organization partners with locally led organizations in India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Honduras to implement water, sanitation, and hygiene education projects, and it follows up long after construction to ensure systems continue to function. Water1st's approach, branded as the Bring Water Home™ approach, is built on the idea that only water at home ends the walk for water and gives families enough water for health, hygiene, and daily life. The organization integrates household water service, water-seal toilets, and hygiene education, and it emphasizes women's leadership within community water boards. It measures success not by infrastructure built but by service delivered — reliable, sufficient water available at the household every day. The organization is powered by a small Seattle-based team working alongside locally led partners. Marla Smith-Nilson is the Founder and Executive Director. Other staff include Kirk Anderson (Director of International Programs), Lucia Hunt (Director of Community Engagement), Susan James (Deputy Director), and Kathleen McMullen (Director of Individual Giving). Water1st is a member of the End Water Poverty coalition and a supporter of Water Advocates. It has supported the construction of hundreds of water systems in India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Honduras, benefiting tens of thousands of people. In 2008 it launched the Carry5 event to raise awareness and funds for the global water crisis, and it works with schools to educate children about water issues.

Water1st International was founded on a simple realization: the people most affected by water scarcity already understood what needed to change. The organization began by listening to women who carry water, who described the work as exhausting and time-consuming, limiting education, income, and opportunity. Their priority was clear: not a closer water point, but water at home. This insight reshaped how Water1st designs every project. For many years, water projects measured success by infrastructure built rather than service delivered. Systems often provided limited quantities of water or required continued hauling from public taps. Water1st learned that lasting change happens only when water is reliable, sufficient, and available at the household. The organization therefore focuses on piped water networks that deliver safe water directly to homes, available every day and in quantities that protect health. Projects also combine household water service, water-seal toilets, and hygiene education, and they emphasize women's leadership within community water boards. Water1st works through locally led partner organizations in India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Honduras. According to Arabic Wikipedia, the organization has supported the construction of 515 water networks in these countries, benefiting 63,000 people, and in 2010 it committed to funding 75 additional projects and services for 15,000 people. To help ensure long-term sustainability, communities participate in every step of planning, implementation, and financing of projects. Water1st is a member of the End Water Poverty coalition and a supporter of Water Advocates. In 2008 it launched a new event called Carry5, which walks to raise awareness of the global water crisis and funds to support project implementation. By October 2009, there were several Carry5 events in Seattle and other locations around the world. The organization also works with schools to educate children about the global water crisis, and as part of this effort it created a media library on its website and YouTube. Today, Water1st continues to be powered by a small Seattle-based team working alongside locally led partners. Its Bring Water Home™ approach remains central to its mission: ending the walk for water by bringing piped water and safe toilets to every home, creating healthier families, greater opportunity, and change that lasts for generations.

• 2010

  Committed to funding 75 additional projects and services for 15,000 people.

• 2009

  Several Carry5 events took place in Seattle and other locations around the world by October 2009.

• 2008

  Launched the Carry5 event to raise awareness and funds for the global water crisis.

Nonprofit organization focused on household-level water and sanitation service delivery, prioritizing sustainability and locally led implementation.

Product categories. Piped household water systems · Water-seal toilets · Hygiene education programs · Community water boards

• Carry5

1. 1Water1st International – Bring Water Homewater1st.org
2. 2Our Story – Water1st Internationalwater1st.org
3. 3About Us – Water1st Internationalwater1st.org
4. 4Water1st International - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5منظمة (المياه أولا) الدولية - Wikipediaar.wikipedia.org