Lifewater and the WASH Solution
Lifewater and the WASH Solution
Across the globe, we know that 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, including the 144 million who drink untreated surface water. The continents of Asia and Africa are most affected by a shortage of clean water and in 2022, in some countries like Central African Republic and Chad, more than 90% of the population lacked access to safe drinking water. In most majority world countries, women and girls spend millions of hours daily collecting water, hindering their opportunities for education and work. But finding water is only part of the problem.
If the water people collect is not clean, drinking it can kill them. The lack of clean water leads to significant health problems. Almost 1,000 children die daily from preventable water and sanitation-related diseases. Contaminated drinking water causes cholera, dysentery, polio, and typhoid. The 2 billion people without clean water are currently at risk of serious disease, but if shortages are not addressed, the crisis will only deepen. Thankfully, there are hundreds of charities and governmental organizations currently working to improve water access, prevent contamination, and protect clean water sources, and some of the best of these are Christian ministries.
Lifewater International is the oldest of the Christian clean-water non-profits. It began in the 1960s, when William "Bill" A. Ashe took his family on trips into Baja, Mexico, to help orphanages, camps, and churches install new water systems. The family’s water pump business was prospering in Southern California, and Bill and his wife, Lorraine, wanted to teach their children that such blessing brought with it an opportunity to give to others in the name of Jesus. Surprised by the impact they were having by helping people gain safe water, Bill began to invite other water professionals to join him on his work trips. As the outreach grew, Bill's friends began encouraging him to formalize the ministry.
The Lifewater International name was established in 1977 and a board of directors elected in 1979. After attending a Billy Graham conference in Amsterdam in 1983, Bill received 2,000-plus requests for safe water from pastors and evangelists in more than 100 countries. In 1984, Lifewater became a registered California non-profit corporation and in 1986 was granted tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status by the IRS.
Lifewater's ministry grew tremendously in the next four decades. Requests for assistance and training led the organization to expand from two people working in the back office of Bill’s pump repair business to a headquarters on the central coast of California with more than fifteen full-time staff and dozens of interns and office volunteers. The numbers of volunteer field trainers serving in other countries also tripled, from 50 to more than 150.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Lifewater's volunteers served thousands of communities around the world with safe water, adding improved sanitation and hygiene practices to its list of essential services. As Ashe transitioned Lifewater from volunteers to professional staff, they collaborated with ministries in-country to advance the cause of WASH (Water Access, Sanitation, Hygiene) to those in need. They also distributed Bibles, planted churches, and presented the gospel of Christ to everyone who would listen.
Focusing on these three WASH disciplines can significantly decrease life-threatening diseases. The three components of WASH are grouped together because of their inter-dependence, since one cannot be fully realized without the other. The ministry equips volunteer field trainers in shallow well drilling, hand pump repair, bio-sand filtration, community health, and WASH safe practices for home sanitation, and latrine-building. They focus on long-term change and improved community health. In some locations, spring caps, rain catchment systems, or cisterns are more appropriate than wells, so local water committees are trained to care for the water source, collect user fees to save for needed repairs, and carry out frequent maintenance.
Teaching sanitation and hygiene habits has helped to ensure that communities can continue to make progress and maintain the delivery of reliable clean water even after organizations leave and 7-10 year programs end. In its 47 years, Lifewater has served more than 3 million people in 45 countries, including Tanzania, Uganda, Cambodia, and Ethiopia.
The life of Bill Ashe quietly touched thousands of women, men, and children around the world. When someone praised him he would smile and say he was just doing the Lord's work and serving solely as a tool. His humility was genuine, inspiring, and he was filled with grace. Bill felt strongly that those who have been blessed must ease the suffering of those less fortunate. He modeled doing just that, without bragging or drawing attention to his good works.
After Bill death at 85 years old in 2016, Lifewater underwent a smooth transition and, in 2024, merged with Water for Good, another Christian WASH non-profit, serving primarily in South and Central America. By joining forces, both trusted ministries combined decades of experience, innovation, and faith-driven service. Lifewater’s holistic WASH expertise and Water for Good’s proven success in sustainable water system maintenance will make the ministry together even more effective (See "Global Health Matters" below).
Today, under the heading of "Water for Good," this ministry's Global Headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas, and field offices are located in Addis Ababa, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Cambodia. While much of Lifewater's work has focused on developing countries, it is now also providing Ukrainian refugees with water they need to survive during the Russian invasion.
This month, we offer gratitude for the thousands of faith-based leaders, hydrologists, volunteers, and prayer and support partners who serve in clean water ministries. These dear Peaceweavers work each day to bring cups of cold, clean, life-giving water to the least of these.
-Karen O'Dell Bullock
If the water people collect is not clean, drinking it can kill them. The lack of clean water leads to significant health problems. Almost 1,000 children die daily from preventable water and sanitation-related diseases. Contaminated drinking water causes cholera, dysentery, polio, and typhoid. The 2 billion people without clean water are currently at risk of serious disease, but if shortages are not addressed, the crisis will only deepen. Thankfully, there are hundreds of charities and governmental organizations currently working to improve water access, prevent contamination, and protect clean water sources, and some of the best of these are Christian ministries.
Lifewater International is the oldest of the Christian clean-water non-profits. It began in the 1960s, when William "Bill" A. Ashe took his family on trips into Baja, Mexico, to help orphanages, camps, and churches install new water systems. The family’s water pump business was prospering in Southern California, and Bill and his wife, Lorraine, wanted to teach their children that such blessing brought with it an opportunity to give to others in the name of Jesus. Surprised by the impact they were having by helping people gain safe water, Bill began to invite other water professionals to join him on his work trips. As the outreach grew, Bill's friends began encouraging him to formalize the ministry.
The Lifewater International name was established in 1977 and a board of directors elected in 1979. After attending a Billy Graham conference in Amsterdam in 1983, Bill received 2,000-plus requests for safe water from pastors and evangelists in more than 100 countries. In 1984, Lifewater became a registered California non-profit corporation and in 1986 was granted tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status by the IRS.
Lifewater's ministry grew tremendously in the next four decades. Requests for assistance and training led the organization to expand from two people working in the back office of Bill’s pump repair business to a headquarters on the central coast of California with more than fifteen full-time staff and dozens of interns and office volunteers. The numbers of volunteer field trainers serving in other countries also tripled, from 50 to more than 150.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Lifewater's volunteers served thousands of communities around the world with safe water, adding improved sanitation and hygiene practices to its list of essential services. As Ashe transitioned Lifewater from volunteers to professional staff, they collaborated with ministries in-country to advance the cause of WASH (Water Access, Sanitation, Hygiene) to those in need. They also distributed Bibles, planted churches, and presented the gospel of Christ to everyone who would listen.
Focusing on these three WASH disciplines can significantly decrease life-threatening diseases. The three components of WASH are grouped together because of their inter-dependence, since one cannot be fully realized without the other. The ministry equips volunteer field trainers in shallow well drilling, hand pump repair, bio-sand filtration, community health, and WASH safe practices for home sanitation, and latrine-building. They focus on long-term change and improved community health. In some locations, spring caps, rain catchment systems, or cisterns are more appropriate than wells, so local water committees are trained to care for the water source, collect user fees to save for needed repairs, and carry out frequent maintenance.
Teaching sanitation and hygiene habits has helped to ensure that communities can continue to make progress and maintain the delivery of reliable clean water even after organizations leave and 7-10 year programs end. In its 47 years, Lifewater has served more than 3 million people in 45 countries, including Tanzania, Uganda, Cambodia, and Ethiopia.
The life of Bill Ashe quietly touched thousands of women, men, and children around the world. When someone praised him he would smile and say he was just doing the Lord's work and serving solely as a tool. His humility was genuine, inspiring, and he was filled with grace. Bill felt strongly that those who have been blessed must ease the suffering of those less fortunate. He modeled doing just that, without bragging or drawing attention to his good works.
After Bill death at 85 years old in 2016, Lifewater underwent a smooth transition and, in 2024, merged with Water for Good, another Christian WASH non-profit, serving primarily in South and Central America. By joining forces, both trusted ministries combined decades of experience, innovation, and faith-driven service. Lifewater’s holistic WASH expertise and Water for Good’s proven success in sustainable water system maintenance will make the ministry together even more effective (See "Global Health Matters" below).
Today, under the heading of "Water for Good," this ministry's Global Headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas, and field offices are located in Addis Ababa, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Cambodia. While much of Lifewater's work has focused on developing countries, it is now also providing Ukrainian refugees with water they need to survive during the Russian invasion.
This month, we offer gratitude for the thousands of faith-based leaders, hydrologists, volunteers, and prayer and support partners who serve in clean water ministries. These dear Peaceweavers work each day to bring cups of cold, clean, life-giving water to the least of these.
-Karen O'Dell Bullock
Other trusted faith-based organizations also have long-running, extensive clean water programs:
- The Bucket Ministry (2012), located in Fate, TX
- Living Water International (1990)
- Samaritan's Purse (1970)
- Water4 (2008)
- Water Mission (1998)
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