Who we are

1001fontaines is a non-profit organization that designs and deploys innovative safe drinking water solutions for vulnerable communities by supplying refillable 20-liter bottles.

2004

Creation
of 1001fontaines

2024

1,300,000
consumers

2030

Our goal:
Become the preferred drinking water solution for the vulnerable populations in 5 countries

Our history

1001fontaines was founded in 2004 with the conviction that addressing the safe drinking water access crisis requires the implementation of efficient, innovative, and sustainable solutions that ensure the quality of the water produced and distributed, while meeting the needs of the population.

2004 Creation of 1001fontaines as a French NGO
Chay Lo, a young Cambodian engineer, along with Francois Jaquenoud and Virginie Legrand, design a small production facility prototype for bottled safe drinking water: the water kiosk
2005-2007 11 pilot sites are set up in the Battambang province, covering approx. 60 villages in Northwest Cambodia. 2008 A pilot project is initiated in Madagascar to test the bottled safe drinking water services' replicability in a context where extreme poverty prevails 2008 The Water in School program is launched to provide safe drinking water for free in the schools 2013 Partnership with the NGO Sulabh International in India to pass on our expertise. 2017 1001fontaines exceeds 200 water kiosks, with 190 in Cambodia and 19 in Madagascar, serving more than 500,000 beneficiaries. 2019 Pilot projects launched in Myanmar and Vietnam, scheduled to end in 2023 and 2025, respectively. 2023 More than 1,000,000 beneficiaries are served by 1001fontaines, including 350,000 children. 2024 Partnership with the NGO Uttaran in Bangladesh to optimize and scale up their bottled water model in the southwest of the country 2025 A pilot project launched in Nepal to confirm our approach's relevance in the country's rural areas. 2030 One ambition: Become the preferred drinking water solution for the vulnerable populations in 5 countries.

Our approach

goutte-eau-44x62

Rural water kiosks

Micro-enterprises producing affordable safe drinking water

goutte-eau-44x62

Urban Hubs & Spokes

An efficient solution to serve urban populations 

goutte-eau-44x62

Sustainability at the core of our strategy

Through hybrid economic and operational models    

goutte-eau-44x62

Supplying free safe drinking water in schools

A portion of daily water production is dedicated to the Water in School program

Countries where we operate

MADAGASCAR

See more

MYANMAR

See more

CAMBODIA

See more

VIETNAM

See more

Countries where we operate

CAMBODGE

See more...

MADAGASCAR

See more...

MYANMAR

See more...

VIETNAM

See more...

Combining International Recognition and Sectoral Ambition

With over 20 years of experience, we are now convinced of the strong potential for scaling up our approach. By supplying refillable bottled water as an essential service, we provide an efficient response to the challenge of safe water access—one that many communities have already embraced.

 

At a global scale, this approach could secure sustainable access to safe drinking water for nearly one billion people. Our ambition is to have it recognized as an efficient solution so that, tomorrow, it can be made accessible to the greatest number.

Board members and team

Want to join us?