Prophet Mohammed (Pace be upon him) told us about the virtues of giving water to people. On one Hadith giving water has been mentioned as the best sadaqa (act of charity). He encouraged digging of wells and giving water for the benefit of people. He declared it unlawful to poison the wells of enemies.
Hazrath Abu Dharr(Radiyallahu Anhu) is reported as saying, ” Your putting some of their water from your bucket in your brother’s bucket is sadaqa. Your removing stones, thorns and bones from people’s path is sadaqa. Your guiding a man in a place where there are no guides is sadaqa.”
(Reported by Imam Bukhari in al Adab Al Mufrad, Hadith#891)
Hazrat Usman (Radiyallahu Anhu) bought a well named bi’r-i-Rumah from a jew for twenty thousand dirhams. That was the first trust ever made in the history of Islam. Rasool Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) gave him the glad tidings of paradise for this act.
