Water Well Donation: Types, Prices and Contributing a Share

A water well donation is one of the most lasting good deeds: a single donation gives a whole village clean water for years.

In this guide we explain step by step the types of wells, current prices by country, shared participation and having a well built on behalf of your loved ones.

Why donate a water well? Access to clean water is still a major problem

According to a joint report published by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in August 2025, as of 2024, 1 in 4 people worldwide lack safe drinking water.

According to the same report, 106 million people drink water directly from lakes, ponds and streams without any treatment.

People in the least developed countries are more than twice as likely as those elsewhere to lack basic drinking water and sanitation services.

The burden of fetching water falls mostly on women and girls; in sub-Saharan Africa and Central/South Asia many of them spend more than half an hour on it every day.

That is why a well in the middle of a village means not only water but also time, health and children who can go to school.

Types of water wells: hand-pump, with ablution fountain, borehole and solar-powered

Every region's groundwater, soil and needs are different. That is why there is no one-size-fits-all well.

Hand-pump water well

A hand-pump well works without electricity and is a relatively easy-to-maintain solution.

It is the most commonly chosen model for villages and neighbourhoods. Example project: hand-pump water well in Mali.

Water well with ablution fountain (şadırvan)

A well with an ablution fountain (şadırvan) is built so that water can be drawn from several taps at the same time.

In crowded settlements and near schools and mosques it shortens queues and also makes ablution easier. Example: well with ablution fountain in Bangladesh.

Borehole water well

In regions where the water lies deep, drilling (a deep well) is needed. The cost is higher because of the drilling depth and the equipment used.

Example: borehole water well in Benin.

Solar-powered water well

A solar-powered well runs its pump on solar panels; no fuel or grid electricity is needed.

It is suitable for regions with frequent power cuts. Example: solar-powered water well in Yemen.

Price list for building a water well (2026)

The table below shows Austria Yetim Eli's current water well donation prices by country.

Price differences arise from transporting materials to the region, labour, soil structure and the depth of the water.

In an emergency, building a well takes time. In such cases, quick solutions such as a water tanker donation for Palestine (€350 / trip) come into play.

Water wells in Africa: why is the need greatest here?

Water well projects in Africa are concentrated mainly in the Sahel belt (Mali, Chad) and East Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda).

WHO/UNICEF data show sub-Saharan Africa as one of the regions with the lowest access to clean water.

In times of drought, surface water dries up; families walk for kilometres and are left with nothing but dirty water.

That is why a hand-pump well in Africa, despite its low cost, can reach a large number of families.

You can find all the regions where we work on the countries we work in page.

Water wells and Sadaqah Jariyah: a donation with ongoing reward

The Prophet (pbuh) said that when a person dies their deeds come to an end, except for three things: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous child who prays for them (Muslim, Wasiyyah 14).

A well is a work whose benefit continues as long as people and animals drink from it. That is why it is considered one of the best-known examples of Sadaqah Jariyah.

When Sa'd ibn Ubadah (ra) asked, after his mother's death, which Sadaqah was most virtuous, the Prophet answered “Water”; Sa'd then had a well dug and dedicated it to his mother (Abu Dawud, Zakat 41).

For more on the types of Sadaqah, read our guide to Sadaqah and Sadaqah Jariyah.

How does a shared water well donation work?

Not every donor can set aside €2.000 or €6.000. That is why shared participation is possible.

Family members, groups of friends, mosque congregations or workplaces can come together to cover the cost of a single well.

Example scenario: A group of five friends in Linz each set aside €400 for a hand-pump well in Mali (€2.000).

The donations are pooled into a single well; the group decides together on whose behalf it will be built.

Example calculation: A family setting aside €50 a month can save up for a hand-pump well in Asia (€500) in 10 months, and for the hand-pump well in Afghanistan (€1.500) in 30 months.

For details on shared participation, contact us or message us on WhatsApp: +43 676 520 35 35.

Having a water well built on someone's behalf

Many donors have a well built on behalf of their late parents, a relative or their children.

In the donation form you can state on whose behalf the well should be built.

• On behalf of a deceased relative: with the intention that the reward reaches them, as in the example of Sa'd ibn Ubadah.
• On behalf of a living relative: as a gift for a birth or wedding, or with the intention of recovery.
• In your own name: as a long-term charitable work.

How to donate a water well from Austria (step by step)

1. Choose the type of well and the country: find a well that fits your budget on the water well projects page.
2. Add it to your basket: if you wish, you can add other projects to the same basket and give them all in one payment.
3. Write the name of the person it is for: use the description field in the donation form.
4. Choose a payment method: Card / Online (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, EPS) or PayPal. For bank transfer: our bank account details.
5. Confirmation email: after donating you receive a thank-you email, and once the payment is confirmed, an email with your donation receipt.

Whether from Vienna, Innsbruck, Graz or Vorarlberg, the process is entirely online.

If you are wondering how to choose a trustworthy organisation, take a look at our guide choosing a trustworthy charity.

What to consider when donating a water well

• Match budget and type: on a limited budget, a hand-pump well or shared participation; for crowded settlements, a well with an ablution fountain; for deep water, a borehole well.
• Regional priority: the regions hit hardest by drought and with the poorest access to clean water are mostly in Africa.
• Expected timeframe: building a well takes time depending on the ground, season, permits and transport of materials. A well is not dug in a day.
• State your intention: write in the donation form on whose behalf the well is to be built and any special intention you have (Sadaqah, vow, etc.).
• Get to know the organisation: choose one whose address, management and contact details are openly available. You can get to know us on the Who we are page.

Water well donations in Ramadan and on blessed nights

Many donors give their lasting works in the month of Ramadan, on Laylat al-Qadr or on the blessed nights (Kandil).

The first day of Ramadan is 8 February 2027. You can prepare a large donation such as a well by then through shares or monthly savings.

You can plan your Ramadan with the Ramadan 2027 donation guide.

Which donations go well together with a water well?

Clean water has a greater impact when combined with nutrition and education.

• With orphan sponsorship you can support the monthly needs of an orphan in the same region (€50 / month).
• A dairy goat donation in Africa (€100) gives a family a regular source of food.
• Building a mosque in Afghanistan is also a lasting work open to shared participation.
• For options addressing the water crisis in Palestine, see our article Donating to Palestine from Austria.

Sources: WHO/UNICEF: 1 in 4 people globally still lack access to safe drinking water (26.08.2025) · WHO/UNICEF JMP 2025 report · TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi: Sadaka