Ratemywaterquality.com
This entry has been selected as a finalist in the
We Media PitchIt! Challenge: How can we use media to inspire a better world? competition.
Ratemywaterquality.com is a crowdsourcing website that will allow citizens to report on local water quality. Water quality is an emerging issue due to aging water infrastructures and increasing pollution sources from farmland runoff to natural gas drilling. The website will improve reporting and subsequent accountability for regulatory agencies and utilities.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Jeff
Last Name
Roush
Website
Organization
Country
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Organization Website
Organization Phone
Organization Address
Organization Country
United States
Your idea
Name Your Project
Ratemywaterquality.com
What is your idea? What makes it innovative? Why is it important?
Ratemywaterquality.com is a crowdsourcing website that will allow citizens to report on local water quality. Water quality is an emerging issue due to aging water infrastructures and increasing pollution sources from farmland runoff to natural gas drilling. The website will improve reporting and subsequent accountability for regulatory agencies and utilities.
Will you launch your idea as a business or non-profit?
Non-profit
Country your work focuses on
United States
What will be the impact of your idea?
Citizens will be able to report on quality aspects of the water called "secondary standards" such as: odor, taste, cloudiness, color, foaming, no water, and low pressure. Users can also report sewage backups and storm water drainage issues. Such reports will be sorted based on the location of the user. Without crowdsourcing water quality data entry, getting timely and accurate water quality conditions in your community is nearly impossible since currently there is no ability to aggregate or mass test the quality of the water at numerous endpoints.
-Citizens can see if their water conditions are localized, or part of a larger problem in their community. With sufficient data, a user will have an idea of whether the problem is in their home, or in the community's water pipes.
-Water utilities can monitor the territories they serve and receive updates on water quality. Utilities can then overlay the complaint areas with their water pipe network to identify the source of the problem in a timely manner.
-Storm water backup data could also be correlated to weather patterns which can help prevent future problems.
-A large data repository will be built that can be used for research.
Who will help you develop your idea? Why are you the one to make this happen?
Ratemywaterquality.com will utilize Google Maps API so the majority of programming has already been completed. A detailed Request For Proposal (RFP) specification will be written and bid out that will specify using widely adopted and low cost open source technologies.
As a water/wastewater technology consultant, I have written and participated in many RFP ventures as well as leading technology projects from inception to completion.
How much will it cost to launch your idea? (This can be an estimate)
$25,000 is sufficient to create this site.
This Entry is about (Issues)
 | 120 weeks agoa. b said: IT'S A NEW DAY...FOR ONE of SEVEN...IT'S A NEW DAY...CREATING a small peace of HEAVEN on earth with your project. Congratulations ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 123 weeks agoa. b said: Thank you Jeff for responding. we will be looking forward to rating the water quality around the entire planet, with your submissions ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 124 weeks agoJeff Roush said: a b, Yes, the goal is to make ratemywaterquality.com to work in all countries. The initial launch will be in US and Canada and then ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 124 weeks agoa. b said: Please explain why your idea/project, is suited/perfect to using... 'media' ...to bring about A BETTER "WORLD"...the entire planet...? ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 124 weeks agoJeff Roush updated this Competition Entry. |
| 124 weeks agoJeff Roush updated this Competition Entry. |
| 124 weeks agoJeff Roush submitted this idea. |
