Ancient Mariners

A scalable platform for water access and pollution monitoring powered by space data and citizen science.

Water, water everywhere, but is it safe to drink?

Access to clean water is one of the most fundamental needs for life—yet in many situations, we still rely on guesswork regarding its quality.

Picture this: you are out hiking in a new area and suddenly realize you’ve finished the last drop of water in your bottle. Somewhere nearby, there is water—but where? And more importantly, is it safe to drink?

Or imagine a local swimming spot that has always been clear and inviting. Over time, something changes. The water becomes murky. The taste is different. Something feels wrong—but there is no easy way to confirm it, no shared system to check if others have noticed the same.

Across large parts of the world, this is the reality. Information about water sources and water quality is fragmented, outdated, or simply missing.

For example, nitrogen applied to the environment has doubled since the Industrial Revolution, leading to increased pollution. In the EU, the most significant pressures are diffuse pollution from agriculture. In fact, only 38% of Europe’s surface waters are reported to be in good quality. Norway’s far better off, with about 70% of its reported surface waters in good quality—well above the European average.

Then again,in Norway, 92% of surface waters lack consistent monitoring, and the water bodies still have unknown status, relying on impact analysis and local knowledge instead of direct data.

That’s where the new Water Framework Directive comes in. It’s tightening standards and adding new substances like polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. The compliance deadline is set for 2033, with full chemical status targets by 2039. But we’re far behind.

But we still face challenges, especially with outdated monitoring systems and gaps in coverage. The European Union spends between 52 to 84 billion EURO annually on health impact of highly persistent pollutants, such as PFAS.

Monitoring is expensive, infrequent, and limited in coverage. As a result, pollution is often discovered too late, and access to safe water remains uncertain—especially in natural and remote environments.

But what if we could change that?

What if every person with a smartphone could contribute to a global, real-time understanding of water?

What if satellite data and human observation could work together to create a living, continuously updated map of the world’s water situation—showing not just where it is, but whether it is safe or polluted?

Our idea is to build exactly that: a platform that turns citizens into active contributors to water monitoring, combining space technology with everyday observations to create a smarter, faster, and more scalable way to understand and protect our water resources.

The challenge

This project addresses a combination of Challenge #1: Securing equitable and efficient access to water and Challenge #2: Tracking and preventing water pollution.

Access to safe and reliable water is essential, yet in many regions, especially in natural and remote areas, information about water sources is limited or unavailable. At the same time, water pollution remains a growing challenge, with insufficient monitoring and delayed detection.

In Norway, for example, up to 92%* of surface waters are not regularly tested, and existing measurements may be years apart. This creates a critical gap in both access to information and early detection of contamination.

Our solution addresses both challenges simultaneously. 

By combining satellite data with citizen-generated observations, the platform enables:

• Improved access to information about water sources

• Continuous and scalable monitoring across large areas

• Early detection of changes in water quality

• Identification of pollution patterns and potential sources

Users can also report visible warning signs such as unusual water appearance, dead wildlife, or suspected illegal dumping. This contributes to faster detection and response, reducing environmental damage and protecting both ecosystems and human health.

So, how would this platform work? 

Lets get back to the hiker that is thirsty for some fresh water to drink. He opens an app on his phone, there is no mobile data at the moment, but that’s not a problem. He downloaded the recent mapping data for the area before he arrived at the location. So now, he opens the app and chooses the option “Find water source”, up pops a map with watersources nearby, a few of them have markers on them, which means someone has been there before, and tested the water. He clicks on one of the closest markers, and sees that it has been marked as bad tasting. The picture with the marking show that this water source is close to a place where sheep are grazing in a pasture. Noting to your self that the water source might not be suitable. You click on a different mark, for a water source that is in a different direction, and see that it has been marked as a clean and well tasting water source, even showing a picture of it. So you choose to go there. An lo and behold, you get your fresh water to fill up your bottle. 

On the way home from your journey, you come across a different water basin, and you discover one of the sheep lying dead in the stream. He immediately opens his app, and clicks on the location, and records that the watersource is not safe at the moment, something that marks the stream as unsafe for other users the moment mobile access appears again.

The key here is that with growing awareness, more and more people care, and we are making a bet on their willingness to contribute. These contributions in turn create more engagement and awareness and becomes a self supporting cycle of increased participation, awareness and understanding.

How the app is built and used

The app is built as a layered platform that combines EU space data, existing environmental databases, and user-generated field observations. Copernicus data is used to map water bodies and provide environmental indicators such as turbidity, surface temperature, land use, and possible pollution patterns. Galileo and EGNOS is used for accurate positioning, so every user report, photo, water sample, or test result is precisely geotagged.

The platform has two main user objectives: Find Water and Report/Test Water.

To find water, users simply look at the map in the app or platform, and look for nearby water sources. Here, they can also access available information about water quality, previous reports, satellite-based indicators, and possible risks. The app can also support offline maps, allowing hikers and outdoor users to download data before entering areas without mobile coverage.

With the function of Report/Test Water, users can contribute new information. They can submit simple observations, such as taste, smell, color, turbidity, or visible pollution. They can upload geotagged photos, report dead animals or suspected illegal dumping, and rate whether the water seems safe. More engaged users can perform simple self-tests using low-cost testing kits, while advanced users can collect samples and send them to partner laboratories or universities for verified analysis.

 Multi-level data and knowledge building

To ensure both accessibility and data quality, the platform supports different levels of contribution.

At the most basic level, users contribute observations that provide immediate, large-scale insights into water conditions. At the next level, simple field testing introduces more structured data, helping indicate whether water should be filtered, boiled, or avoided. At the highest level, laboratory testing provides reliable, high-quality measurements that strengthen the dataset.

Over time, these layers work together to build a continuously improving database—where large volumes of simple data are complemented by smaller amounts of highly accurate data.

This makes it useful not only for hikers and citizens, but also for municipalities, researchers, environmental agencies, farmers, and other stakeholders who need better insight into local water conditions.

Data integration

The strength of the platform lies in its ability to combine multiple sources of information into one unified system.

Satellite data provides large-scale environmental context, while hydrological data describes water flow and catchment areas. Existing databases contribute historical measurements, and user-generated data adds real-time, local observations.

The platform can also include information about potential pollution sources within catchment areas, making it possible to better understand how environmental conditions influence water quality.

Together, these layers create a dynamic and evolving picture of water systems that becomes more accurate and valuable over time.

Engagement and participation

A key challenge in environmental monitoring is motivating people to contribute data. This platform addresses that by making participation intuitive, meaningful, and engaging.

Users can create profiles and track the water sources they have visited, gaining an overview of their activity within a region. Contributions are rewarded through a point-based system, where users receive more recognition for testing previously untested locations and more detailed reports if they are active contributors.

Gamification elements such as achievements, milestones, and monthly challenges encourage continued engagement. Small incentives, such as prize draws or rewards, can further motivate participation.

In addition, partnerships with organizations such as DNT (the Norwegian Trekking Association), as well as schools, universities, and environmental organizations, can support structured data collection through field activities and citizen science initiatives. 

Promotion and outreach

For the platform to have real impact, it must become widely known and actively used. A key principle is therefore that the core functionality of the app is free and accessible, lowering the barrier for participation and making it easy for anyone to contribute.

Outreach will be driven through a combination of partnerships, community engagement, and targeted initiatives.

Collaboration with universities will play an important role, both in promoting the platform and in contributing through laboratory analysis and research use. Partnerships with organizations such as the Norwegian Trekking Association can help reach outdoor users who are already active in nature and well-positioned to collect data.

Schools, environmental organizations, and other community groups can use the platform as part of field activities and citizen science projects. This not only supports data collection, but also increases awareness and education around water quality and environmental protection.

To further drive engagement, the platform can host events and campaigns. For example, regions or countries could participate in friendly competitions to register the most data within a given timeframe. These initiatives can increase visibility, encourage participation, and create a sense of shared purpose.

By combining accessibility, partnerships, and community-driven initiatives, the platform can grow into a widely used tool for both individuals and institutions—while simultaneously building awareness around the importance of protecting water resources.

Environmental impact

Clean water is essential not only for human use, but also for maintaining healthy ecosystems where wildlife can thrive.

By enabling more frequent and widespread monitoring, the platform helps close a significant data gap and supports more sustainable management of water resources.

What makes this solution different?

Several solutions already exist for mapping water sources or monitoring water quality. However, most of them rely on either static datasets, infrequent official measurements, or high-cost monitoring systems with limited geographic coverage.

This project introduces a new approach by combining multiple elements into one integrated platform:

• Integration of space data and citizen science

While existing platforms often use either satellite data or ground-based measurements, this solution combines both. Data from the Copernicus Programme is enriched with real-time, geotagged observations from users via Galileo/EGNOS positioning. This creates a more dynamic and continuously updated dataset.

• Scalable and real-time monitoring

Traditional water monitoring is expensive and limited in frequency. By enabling users to contribute data, the platform scales naturally across regions and provides more frequent updates, allowing earlier detection of changes in water quality.

• Multi-level data collection

Unlike most citizen science platforms, this solution supports different levels of data quality:

• Simple observations (taste, appearance, photos)

• Low-cost field testing

• Laboratory-verified samples

This layered approach increases both participation and data reliability over time.

• Dual focus: access and quality

Many existing tools focus either on where water is located or how polluted it is. This platform addresses both simultaneously—helping users find water and understand whether it is safe to use.

• User engagement through design

Data collection is often a bottleneck in environmental monitoring. By incorporating gamification, offline functionality, and a user-friendly interface, the platform actively motivates people to contribute—turning passive users into active data providers.

• Actionable insights, not just data

Instead of only displaying raw information, the platform aims to provide meaningful insights—helping users decide whether water is safe to drink, whether it should be treated, and whether further investigation is needed.

In short
This project transforms water monitoring from a centralized, infrequent, and costly process into a distributed, continuous, and community-driven system, powered by EU space technologies.

Business model and sustainability

To ensure long-term impact, the platform is designed with a scalable and sustainable business model that serves both public and private stakeholders.

Who benefits?

The platform creates value for multiple user groups:

• Outdoor users and citizens: Access to reliable information about water sources and quality

• Municipalities and public authorities: Improved and cost-effective monitoring of local water bodies

• Environmental agencies and regulators: Access to more frequent and geographically distributed data to support compliance with water quality regulations

• Researchers and universities: Large-scale datasets for environmental monitoring, modelling, and analysis

• Agriculture and industry: Tools to monitor environmental impact and ensure sustainable practices

Revenue streams

The platform can be sustained through a combination of revenue models:

1. Public sector partnerships (B2G) Municipalities and environmental agencies can subscribe to access:

• Aggregated and analyzed water quality data

• Alerts for pollution or environmental changes

• Decision-support tools for monitoring and compliance

This is particularly relevant given increasing EU requirements for water monitoring and reporting.

2. Premium data services (B2B) Advanced data layers, analytics, and API access can be offered to:

• Research institutions

• Environmental consultancies

• Agricultural and industrial actors

3. Testing ecosystem (hardware + services)

• Sale of affordable water testing kits through the platform

• Optional paid laboratory analysis of submitted water samples

• Partnerships with labs and universities for certified testing

4. Freemium model (B2C) The app remains free for basic use, while offering optional premium features such as:

• Advanced map layers and historical data

• Offline extended datasets

• Personalized insights and tracking tools

 Funding and growth

In the early phase, the project can be supported through innovation and space-related funding programmes such as ESA BIC (European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre), as well as EU innovation grants.

As the platform grows, revenue from partnerships, data services, and testing solutions will support long-term sustainability.

References

[1] April 2025 - REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE, ASSESSMENT OF NORWAY’S RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS
https://www.eftasurv.int/esa-at-a-glance/publications/annual-report/report-implementation-water-framework-directive-0