Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this site?
- WaterProtector is a community reporting platform dedicated to water-related issues—such as pollution, erosion, and access to clean water—operated by the Transboundary Water In-Cooperation Network (TWIN). It helps people report, track, and discuss water concerns by simply locating them on a map.
- How do I get in touch with WaterProtector?
- Here’s our contact page.
- What sort of problems should I report with WaterProtector?
- Please report issues related to water and environmental well-being, such as:
- Polluted rivers, canals, or lakes
- Water access blockages or shortages
- Flooding or erosion
- Leaking or broken water infrastructure
- Illegal dumping near water bodies
- Contaminated drinking water sources
- What isn’t WaterProtector for?
- WaterProtector is not for reporting emergencies or criminal activity. Please contact the proper authorities directly for:
- Fires or emergency flooding
- Illegal activity or violence
- Missing persons or animals
- Utility outages not related to water
- Complaints unrelated to environmental or water issues
- How do I use the site?
- After entering your location, you will see a map of your area. You can click on any spot to report a water-related problem or view and comment on reports from others in the community.
- How are the problems solved?
- Each report is sent to TWIN and, when possible, to relevant local authorities. Additionally, the report is made public so others can contribute comments, updates, and pressure for resolution. You may also work with others in your community to solve the issue collaboratively.
- Is it free?
- Yes, WaterProtector is completely free to use. It is maintained by TWIN, a nonprofit organization working on water justice and cooperation across regions.
- Can I use WaterProtector on my mobile?
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Yes! WaterProtector is mobile-friendly and adjusts to your screen size automatically.
Practical Questions
- I'm from an authority, where do you send the reports?
- You can leave a test report or contact us to see where your reports are currently routed. Please also contact us if you'd like to update your contact address.
- I'm from an authority, can we have WaterProtector on our website?
- Yes, please reach out to discuss integrating WaterProtector into your municipal website or public service hub.
- Do you remove silly or illegal content?
- Yes. While WaterProtector allows open reporting, we moderate the site and reserve the right to remove inappropriate or false submissions that violate our community guidelines.
- Why can't I zoom out more on the reporting map?
- We aim to keep the focus on local water issues, so we limit map zooming to help you stay within your region of interest. You can still see all your reports on the "Your Reports" page.
Organisation Questions
- Who built WaterProtector?
- This platform was built and is maintained by the Transboundary Water In-Cooperation Network (TWIN). It is based on open-source civic technology and has been adapted to support water-related issue reporting and community engagement.
- Do you need help with the project?
- Yes! We welcome support from developers, water scientists, community organizers, translators, and anyone passionate about protecting shared water resources. Visit our Get Involved page to learn how you can contribute.
- Can I reuse or adapt this platform?
- Yes — the platform is open source and available under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL). You are free to use, modify, and share it under the same license. To request the source code, please contact us.