The Power of Clean Water: P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program Reaches 25 Billion Liters

Clean drinking water has the power to transform lives — helping more children stay in school, families stay healthy, and communities grow. For over 20 years, the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program has brought the life-changing impact of clean water to communities around the world.

At Global Citizen Festival, one of the world’s largest gatherings of artists, leaders and citizens united in action for positive change, we came together with our longstanding partners to recognize a major milestone for the P&G CSDW Program: 25 billion liters of clean water provided to children and families in more than 100 countries.

Reaching this goal was made possible by the unwavering dedication of more than 150 partner organizations, including Americares, CARE, ChildFund, Save the Children and World Vision.

Global Citizen Festival was a powerful platform to bring together our partners, employees and global citizens, extending gratitude to everyone who helped us reach this milestone.

On the Ground at Global Citizen Festival

P&G and Global Citizen share a history of impactful partnership, including supporting initiatives like the 2014 Water for the World Act, which aims to provide access to clean water and sanitation for vulnerable populations worldwide.

This year, we returned to the Global Citizen Festival stage to officially announce the CSDW Program’s 25 billion liter milestone with the support of Actor, Director, Producer and Americares Board Member Tony Goldwyn and Olympic Champion, Sports Analyst, Actress and UNICEF Ambassador Laurie Hernandez.

Together, they helped deliver a unified "Thank you!" to all who have contributed to this critical work.

Key CSDW Program partners like CARE also played a central role in the day’s activities, engaging attendees with interactive experiences, including a live demonstration of the innovative technology that powers the program. This experience showed how the P&G Purifier of Water Packet, a small but mighty sachet the size of a tea bag, can purify 10 liters of contaminated water in just 30 minutes.

The Journey to 25 Billion Liters: A Legacy of Innovation and Partnership

Over two billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water. At P&G, we are committed to making peoples’ lives better in small but meaningful ways, every day. The CSDW Program was established in 2004 with a clear vision: to bring clean drinking water to children and families in need.

The program's foundation is rooted in the innovative spirit of Dr. Phil Souter, a P&G chemist who saw first-hand the devastating effects that a lack of access to clean water could have on communities. Dr. Souter applied his expertise in Fabric Care science to develop the P&G Purifier of Water technology. Today, the P&G Purifier of Water packets are a testament to how superior innovation can deliver tangible, life-changing results.

Helping solve a problem that impacts a quarter of the world’s population requires the transformative power of partnership. Our network of partner organizations around the world is instrumental in distributing P&G Purifier of Water packets and reaching even the hardest-to-reach places with clean water. Their local expertise and tireless work on the ground are critical to the CSDW Program’s impact.

Looking Forward: Our Work Continues

While reaching 25 billion liters is a significant milestone, P&G's commitment to clean water does not end here. We will continue to work alongside our partners to provide clean water during emergencies and support communities around the world.

The P&G Purifier of Water packet provides an immediate solution during disasters and crises and serves as a vital bridge until longer-term clean water solutions are put in place. We will continue to support this critical role by working with our partners to deliver clean water where and when it’s needed most.

As we mark this 25 billion liter milestone, our gratitude extends far beyond words. We’re thankful for every child who can now dream bigger and every community that has been transformed by the simple yet profound power of clean water.

This achievement is a testament to the collective strength of compassion, innovation and partnership. It belongs to every partner, local leader, Water Champion and community member who has embraced the CSDW Program, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to each person and organization who makes this work possible every day.

To learn more about the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program and read stories about its impact, visit www.csdw.org.

For the past decade, P&G and our brands have proudly partnered with the Global Citizen Festival, a movement that unites artists, leaders and everyday heroes who create positive impact through action around the world. Last year’s powerful Blood Sisters dance performance — highlighting the Always Period Heroes’ efforts to end period poverty — encouraged girls to feel confident and empowered every day, period or no period. This year, we're back to celebrate two decades of P&G's Children's Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) program!

Two billion people around the world don’t have access to clean drinking water. The CSDW program provides a solution: an easy-to-use water purification packet, invented by P&G Fabric Care scientist Dr. Phil Souter, that can clean 10 liters of water in just 30 minutes.

Bringing the Transformative Power of Clean Water To The Festival Stage

On September 28, 2024, we took the innovation of the CSDW Program to the Global Citizen Festival stage to show the world the transformative Power of Clean Water. We were joined by two CSDW Water Champions who have seen the life-changing impact of clean water: DJ Cuppy, Nigerian born, U.K. based international DJ, and CSDW partner Dr. Pasquine Ogunsanya, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Alive Medical Services in Kampala, Uganda. For the past 17 years, Dr. Ogunsanya has been treating children and family members suffering from waterborne diseases that affect their schooling or ability to work and sadly often take their lives.

We also had volunteers from P&G CSDW Program Partner Save the Children on the ground, who showcased our P&G Purifier of Water packets and the importance of clean water to encourage attendees to take action. Together with Save the Children, P&G has supported disaster relief across in countries such as El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda.

Watch the Global Citizen Festival replay to hear inspiring stories from around the world.

Help Us Reach 25 Billion Liters of Clean Water By 2025

Twenty years of the CSDW program is a testament to the power of partnership. Through a diverse network of more than 150 organizations like CARE, World Vision, and Save the Children, and CSDW Water Champions, P&G has provided more than 23 billion liters of clean water to people in more than 100 countries around the world. And we're not stopping here. Together, we're on a mission to deliver 25 billion liters of clean water by 2025.

Want to be a part of it? Download the Global Citizen app and become a CSDW Water Champion today! Once downloaded, search for “Water Champion.”

Clean water looks like children in school, not sick at home. It looks like women empowered to pursue their dreams. Clean water looks like 150 partners from around the world, coming together to create a brighter future.

We’re proud to celebrate 20 years, but there is still more to do. Join us in helping communities grow through the Power of Clean Water.