Clean Water: YouTuber MrBeast's Collaboration with WaterAid
The World Water Development Report in 2023 predicts that the urban population facing water scarcity could double to 1.7-2.4 billion by 2050, with climate change being a large factor.
Jimmy Donaldson, most widely known for his youtube presence as MrBeast, and Mark Rober have set up a partnership with WaterAid.
The partnership aims to raise US$40m to provide two million people with clean water for a decade.
Google and Youtube have announced its support for the cause by contributing US$2m in funding.
Adam Elman, Sustainability Director at Google said on Linkedin: “One in ten people in the world lack access to clean water.
“We're helping to change that. I'm thrilled to announce Google and YouTube's support for TeamWater.
“I’ve always believed in the power of people to drive change.
“And it’s incredible to see how the YouTube creator community continues to lead by example, mobilising millions to take action for our planet.
“To help kickstart this mission, Google and YouTube contributed US$2m in funding.
“This campaign is a powerful demonstration of what's possible when a community comes together for a common good.”
Adam is a judge for the Global Sustainability Awards. Join him on 10 September 2025 in London to celebrate the world's leading sustainable companies.
How does the partnership work?
Team water is a creator-led crowdfunding campaign that aims to change millions of lives globally through access to clean water.
The organisation says that US$1 is enough to give one person clean water for a year.
It has a tight time frame with the campaign having one month to raise the full budget of US$40m.
The campaign has a core focus of getting individuals involved by setting up fundraising pledges, creating team water content and tagging the cause on personal social media.
It has several large content creators with billions of followers between them involved in the cause and spreading the information across their own platforms, spanning 21 countries and six continents.
How will the campaign help
The campaign is not only partnering with WaterAid - there are three other core partnerships crucial to bringing the idea together.
Give Power operates solar water farms that extra salt, microbes, fluoride and other contaminants from water.
The company can bring water directly to communities that are locally managed, creating more jobs, ensuring affordability and enabling reliable community-owned operations for years.
Hayes Barnard, CEO, Give Power said on Linkedin: “Access to clean water doesn’t just improve lives, it transforms entire communities.
“GivePower was created to bring sustainable solutions to people who need them most, and stories like this show the real impact behind our mission.”
Alongside Give Power, DigDeep and Alok Institute are involved.
US-based non profit organisation DigDeep has various projects providing clean water around the US, and is a leading force in water access research, workforce development and policy advocacy.
Alok Institute, which supports transformation projects, cultural promotion, rights assurance, access to water and nature protection, working to inspire attitudes of social participation and solidarity.
The partnership will fund long lasting infrastructure collaborating with communities, some of these systems are:
- Piped water systems to homes, schools and health centres
- Solar powered pumps to communities, allowing access to groundwater without electricity
- Mobile water-quality labs and remote sensors
- Water filters and filtration systems ensuing safe water for consumption
- Community training so locals can maintain the systems
The campaign has specific projects in Rwanda, Mozambique, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Kenya, Brazil and the US.
Why is the campaign needed?
WaterAid is a charity that aims to provide everyone with clean water.
The organisation reports that millions of children around the world don’t have clean water, decent toilets or good hygiene to protect themselves.
It reports that women and girls around the world spend hours collecting water for their families, which leaves them with little time for school and work, with access to clean water it will give them greater health, dignity and opportunity.
Without clean water WaterAid reports that people often end up using dirty water to drink, cook and clean which induces the spread of deadly diseases like cholera and typhoid.
"We're pairing the power of the world's most influential content creators with WaterAid's decades of on-the-ground experience to tackle one of the world's most solvable challenges: the global water crisis," said Kelly Parsons, CEO, WaterAid America.
"Every dollar raised will fund long-term, sustainable water solutions, from solar-powered wells to gravity-fed pipelines, delivering clean water to millions, for generations to come."
