Towards safe water for all
More than 40% of the world’s population face water scarcity and many are affected by contaminants like E. coli, fluoride, and arsenic. In many countries, water quality monitoring is done by collecting a limited number of water samples and transporting them to laboratories, leading to high costs and questionable data quality across the board.
At Akvo, we help organisations and governments continuously monitor water point functionality and water quality in a fast, affordable and scalable way. Through our data journey methodology and data platform, you can easily interpret test results, create interactive maps, and generate insights for decision making.
Discover the data journey for safe water for all
1. Design
Gain clarity on the context and problem you are trying to solve, the water quality and water point data you need to generate insights, and the roles of the people involved.
2. Capture
Choose from over 30 parameters and a variety of testing methods to capture water quality and water point functionality data at scale using a smartphone connected to proven hardware.
3. Understand
Combine water quality data with GPS data, metadata and qualitative data. Visualise the data immediately on an online dashboard, map or interactive chart and compare the results to water quality standards.
4. Act
Create a digital water quality and water point functionality monitoring system. Share your data on a national water portal or online dashboard and drive decision making to reach impact.
Why use the Akvo data platform for your WASH programme?
Fast
Receive results instantly on your smartphone and translate them into real-time decision making dashboards.
Extensive
Test over 30 parameters for a range of purposes. Choose from colorimetry, sensors, microbiology, and test strips.
Cost-effective
Save money and time on lab testing, sample conservation, transport and data handling. Select methods based on your resources.
Accurate
Choose your required accuracy based on your needs. For example, use a portable photometer for high accuracy.
Simple
The app guides you through each test step by step and you can easily manage your data in a cloud-based data system.
Scalable
Run the system on any number of devices and support the submission of thousands of forms. Share your results instantly.
See water quality testing in action
Explore water point and water quality dashboards
Ghana's water atlas
Sierra Leone's water atlas
Liberia's water atlas
Water quality in Mali (in French)
Mali's water atlas (in French)
Water quality in Sierra Leone
55+
partners testing water quality
20+
countries tested for water quality
5
national open water portals created
Explore stories of change
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Since 2015, UNICEF Pacific and Akvo have supported the government of Solomon Islands in conducting multiple national baselines relating to different aspects of WASH coverage.
Tracking WASH infrastructure in the schools of Solomon Islands with UNICEF -
Together with UNICEF Pacific and the World Health Organisation (WHO), Akvo is supporting the government of Fiji to streamline their data processes and ensure targeted programmes and policies for the areas that need support so that they can achieve SDG 6.
Monitoring sustainable development goal 6 in Fiji with UNICEF -
In Kenya, Akvo is involved in piloting a citizen science approach to water quality. Using Akvo’s data platform, citizens are monitoring the health of Nairobi’s rivers in order to gather critical information for evidence-based advocacy.
Using citizen science to monitor the health of Nairobi’s rivers with GIZ -
In collaboration with national governments and international NGOs, Akvo has mapped water points across West Africa and contributed to the creation of open data portals where this information is openly shared.
Designing a water quality monitoring system in Sierra Leone with UNICEF -
Universal access to safe and affordable drinking water is still a challenge. In remote areas of Bali, E. coli is a common contaminant, and timely, accurate and reliable water quality data is hard to come by.
Innovating Bali’s water quality testing systems with Kopernik -
The 9 country programme is part of the current regional programme with the UNICEF Western and Central Africa Regional Office. The programme aims to accelerate national and subnational WASH monitoring for the improved management and delivery of water and sanitation services in nine West and Central African countries.
Accelerating sanitation and water for all in West and Central Africa with UNICEF, IRC and national governments -
Enabel, formerly BTC, is the Belgian development agency. Implementing the development cooperation programmes of the Belgian government, they support development projects around the globe to eradicate poverty.
Increasing access to drinking water in Mozambique with Enabel -
During the prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa, in early 2017, Akvo and IRC were contracted by UNICEF Ethiopia to collect water point functionality data in the Somali region of Ethiopia.
Water point mapping in Ethiopia with IRC and Unicef -
The World Bank has contributed to the water and sanitation sector in India since 1991. It has also partnered with the government in order to ensure better delivery of water, sanitation and health (WASH) services to citizens.
Water quality monitoring in India with the World Bank and the government of Punjab
Meet our partners
Working towards safe water for all?
Speak to our team and find out how Akvo can support you in your data journey.
Impact areas
We apply the principles of open source software, open content and open data to all of our work.
Find out why and how.