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Where's the Well?

What the project does

Where's the Well? It is an offline-first water source mapping app that helps developing communities find, evaluate, and share local water sources even without internet access.

Who it helps

Where's the Well? is designed for people living in developing countries, where access to clean, safe drinking water remains a daily struggle. In many of these regions, especially in rural or informal settlements, water sources such as rivers, hand-dug wells, and boreholes are used without reliable systems to test or monitor their safety.

Infrastructure is often lacking, internet access is limited, and government data may be outdated or unavailable. This app empowers individuals, families, and local organizations to take control by mapping water sources, visually evaluating them, and sharing that knowledge across the community, all without requiring an internet connection.

It's a practical and accessible solution for those on the front lines of the global water crisis.

How it works

Users can walk around their community with any device that has a camera and GPS. When they find a water source, they click on the map to mark its location and take a photo of the water. The app automatically analyzes the image to determine if the water looks clean, muddy, or contaminated.

All information is stored locally on the device, with no internet required. When internet access is available, the application automatically uploads to the central server and updates as users gain internet access. Users can add notes about each source, like whether it's seasonal or if there are access issues. The community can then vote on whether the information seems accurate and leave additional comments.

The app shows users which water sources are closest to them and guides them to those locations. Over time, this builds a comprehensive, community-owned database of local water knowledge that can help people make safer choices about where to obtain their water.

Why it matters

Safe drinking water is a basic human right, but millions of people still rely on unknown or unsafe sources. Traditional solutions often depend on centralized systems, internet access, or expensive lab testing, none of which are guaranteed in low-resource environments.

Where's the Well? flips that model by putting power directly into the hands of the people who need it most. This application enables communities to monitor, share, and protect their water sources entirely offline.

It's not just a tool, it's a form of water justice because no one should have to choose between thirst and risk.