When six Masai warriors tackled the London Marathon last year to raise money for a well in their remote village, they probably thought that the gruelling run would be the most difficult part of their quest for clean water.

Twelve months later, and despite having raised tens of thousands of pounds, the tribe is still drinking dirty water. More than £65,000 has been spent on drilling and surveys that have failed to find a clean source.

The setback raises questions about management of the project, run by Greenforce, a British not-for-profit organisation focused on gap-year students and career breaks.

Water aid charities that work in Africa questioned why such vast sums were being spent when cheaper alternatives were available.

Pump Aid, the charity chosen for The Times Christmas Appeal for its cheap and successful methods of helping African communities to find clean drinking sources, expressed “concern and disappointment” that money appeared to have been wasted. After being alerted to the problems by The Times, Pump Aid’s chief executive, Ian Thorpe was travelling to Eluai, the Masai’s village in northern Tanzania, to assess the project and offer advice.

The Masai’s mission drew admiration and support across Britain last April when six warriors ran the marathon in tribal costume, wearing shoes made from used car tyres and carrying sticks and shields.

So impressed were the British public by the tribesman, who trained by stalking lions, that they gave almost twice the water project’s £60,000 target — a total of £114,726.

Clean water is critical for the survival of the Masai, whose way of life is under threat after years of drought. Children, adults and animals are often forced to drink contaminated water.

Despite the fundraising success, the project has since been characterised by frustration and overspending. Initial drilling based on the Masai’s own methods of procuring water, which included sacrificing a goat on the site, found only rock. Deeper drilling was conducted, even though there was evidence that the area was arid from drought, because of the Masai’s belief that it had water reserves. None was found. Greenforce paid for more drilling despite the doubts of volunteers and the view of some surveyors that there was no groundwater. It was also unsuccessful.

Surveys by independent contractors also led to nothing. Each drilling project cost between £10,000 and £15,000.

The budget suffered further when African contractors inflated their prices after learning on the internet that the Masai had raised more money in London than expected. Marcus Watts, Greenforce’s chief executive, said: “They’re eating into the money pretty quickly. We’ve easily gone through £65,000. We would have liked to have been putting pipes in by now. It is frustrating, but that’s Africa.”

Mr Watts remained optimistic that the project would succeed. A water source had been found a fortnight ago and initial testing was positive, he said, adding that pipeline planning was under way while further tests of water quality were made.

Pump Aid routinely provides water to African communities at a far lower cost. Its award-winning, low-cost Elephant Pump, which guarantees a supply of fresh water from closed wells, costs less than £500.

Nor any drop to drink

Drillings initially cost £10,000 each but were increased to £15,000 when contractors realised how much the Masai had raised

— First drilling: 60m deep. Assessed by an independent hydrologist but based on the Masai’s beliefs. A goat was sacrificed on the site for good luck. Unsuccessful. Cost: £10,000

— Second drilling: 140m deep. Same site, at Masai’s insistence that there was water there, despite evidence to the contrary. Unsuccessful. Cost: £10,000

— Third drilling: three surveyors assess a site but disagree on whether there is water. Drilling takes place on the off-chance. Unsuccessful. Cost: £15,000

— Fourth drilling: finds water but it is salty. Cost: £15,000

— Additional costs include surveys by various hydrology companies and materials

— Total spending: £65,000-plus. Greenforce unable to provide specific breakdown

— Total British donations: £114,726

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