mwater

mWater is a software platform designed for digital data collection, management, and analysis of water-related infrastructure and services. It is used to map and monitor water points, water quality tests, and related assets to support planning, maintenance, and service delivery.

The platform comprises a mobile data collection app and a web-based dashboard. Key features include offline-capable data capture, GPS tagging, multimedia attachments, and form-based surveys with validation rules. Data models cover records such as wells, boreholes, pipelines, and water quality measurements, with attributes like status, capacity, source type, and maintenance history. Data can be organized into projects and teams, with role-based access control to support collaboration and data governance.

Data produced by mWater can be exported in common formats (CSV, GeoJSON, shapefiles) and integrated with GIS tools and other information systems through APIs. The platform supports data visualization, mapping, and reporting, enabling stakeholders to monitor coverage, reliability, and performance over time. It is used by non-governmental organizations, government agencies, utilities, and research institutions, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Origins and licensing: mWater originated as a tool to improve oversight of rural water services and has evolved into a multi-organization platform supported by a mix of free and commercial offerings. The project emphasizes practical data collection workflows and interoperability to support water governance and service delivery.