IBM - Creek Watch iPhone app

New iPhone app brings the power of crowdsourcing to local waterways

The future of the world's water supply just might lie in the palm of your hand—and millions of other hands around the world. Creek Watch, a new iPhone application developed by IBM Research, empowers citizens worldwide to monitor their watersheds and report conditions. Every update provides vital data that local water authorities can use to track pollution, manage water resources and plan environmental programs.

Available as a free download from Apple's App Store (an Android version is under development), Creek Watch is a cinch to use. Simply stop by any waterway and, with the phone's GPS enabled, take a photo and submit three crucial pieces of data based on your observations:

• Water level (dry, some or full)
• Flow rate (still, slow or fast)
• Trash (none, some, a lot)

"That's all it takes to play your part in helping conserve and protect your local water resources," said Christine Robson, an IBM computer scientist who helped develop Creek Watch. "No expertise or training is required. This is an exercise in crowdsourcing, where every individual is encouraged to become a citizen scientist and get engaged with their environment."