A Companion of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Sa'd ibn Ubadah, asked he Messenger of Allah (PBUH), "Umm Sa'd has died; what form of Charity Sadaqah) is best?"  He (PBUH) replied: "Water (is best)." He dug a well and aid: It is for Umm Sa'd (Abu-Dawood #1677)

One of the well-liked project of Hidaya Foundation (www.hidaya.org) is Water and Pump Project.  It benefits impoverished communities in the form of potable drinking water.  Hidaya Foundation installs water hand pumps at economically depressed communities.  Based on water depth, on an average such hand pumps with a cement platform costs approximately $200 in most regions.  This amount includes the maintenance cost of the water pump for approximately five years.  In Africa, the cost of installing and maintaining such water hand pumps increases many fold more.