Please consult our summary of what's new in Aqueduct version 3.0.

 

Q: What is Aqueduct?

A: Aqueduct is a data platform run by World Resources Institute, an environmental research organization. Aqueduct is comprised of tools that help companies, governments, and civil society understand and respond to water risks – such as water stress, variability from season-to-season, pollution, and water access. Aqueduct maps and data are used directly by hundreds of companies and are cited in many publications.

Learn more about Aqueduct's history and the team behind the data.

Q: Why did you update the Aqueduct tool?

A: Based on feedback from users, experience from applying previous data, and improvements in hydrological data and databases, we've updated the baseline maps for the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas and Country Rankings. Aqueduct Floods was updated in April 2020. The current tool includes improvements such as higher temporal and spatial resolution, new indicators, and a more holistic hydrological model. For more information about these updates, please read our summary of what's new in Aqueduct version 3.0.

Q: Can I share, reproduce, or adapt Aqueduct data and/or maps in my website, paper, book, etc.?

A: Yes, as long as you attribute to World Resource Institute's Aqueduct tool. The Aqueduct 3.0 database is licensed through Creative Commons as Internationally licensed work, as long there is attribution. The license is not transferrable, meaning we don't transfer copyright to any other organizations. We ask that you attribute our work as “Source: WRI Aqueduct, accessed on [insert date]” with a link, if possible, to aqueduct.wri.org.

If you use or reference Aqueduct in publicly-available work, please share it with our team.

Q: There are four Aqueduct tools — which should I use?

A: Choose your tool based on the information and functionality you need:

  • Use the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas for information on water-related risks and to assess exposure to water risk across multiple locations
  • Use Aqueduct Food for information on water risk to agriculture and food security
  • Use Aqueduct Floods for information on flood risks and their impacts, and to assess the costs and benefits of flood protection
  • Use the Country Profile and Rankings for high-level summary statistics on water risk at a national and subnational level

Q: How do I use each Aqueduct tool?

A: Each Aqueduct tool is designed to be as easy as possible for users to understand. If you still have questions related to the tools, please email leah.schleifer@wri.org.

Q: What does this indicator (baseline water stress, interannual variability, drought risk, etc.) mean? 

A: For short descriptions within each tool, click the question mark icon to the right of an indicator name. For detailed information regarding data and methodologies, please consult the technical note. You can also find descriptions of each indicator on Resource Watch.

Q: Where are your data sourced from?

A: Data descriptions and sources for each indicator can be found in the tool itself by clicking the question mark to the right of an indicator name, or in the Aqueduct 3.0 technical note. Aqueduct’s unique indicators and calculations are also explored further in this document. For information about how we aggregate data to state and province levels, please consult our methodology. The methods used to aggregate remain the same from version 2.1 to 3.0.

Q: Why did you choose these indicators?

A: WRI chose these indicators working in close consultation with our research partners, and target audience, based on data availability and published literature. More information can be found in our technical note.

Q: Can I download Aqueduct’s data?

A: Yes, Aqueduct data is available for download in several formats. If you would like to adapt and/or share our data, please do – so long as you provide attribution as dictated by our Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License.

Q: Can I download Aqueduct’s underlying code?

A: Yes, Aqueduct’s underlying code can be downloaded on GitHub. If you would like to adapt and/or share our data, please do – so long as you provide attribution as dictated by our Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License.

Q: I'm having a technical issue with Aqueduct.

A: Please consult our summary of what's new in Aqueduct version 3.0.

For more information about Aqueduct Floods, please consult: the launch webinar, the Aqueduct Floods Technical Note, and the Aqueduct Floods Dataset.

If your technical issue is a bug, data anomaly, or error, please first consult our list of known issues. If your issue is not listed, please email leah.schleifer@wri.org.

Q: What year do the maps under the “baseline” tab show? When will the data be updated?

A: Aqueduct’s baseline is a representation of the current situation excluding anomaly events – in other words, it shows water trends of what you can reasonably expect based on historic data.  The tool does not show real-time data.

The data used to calculate the baseline include over 50 years of data across several indicators and is usable for current and future decision-making. We last updated the tool in 2019, using data spanning 1960-2014. To stay informed on Aqueduct data updates, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow @WRIAqueduct on Twitter.

Q: How is this version of Aqueduct different from previous iterations?

A: The current suite of tools have been updated from version 2.1 with new and improved indicators, hydrological model, and sub-basins. A full description of what has changed from the previous Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas and Country Rankings data can be found here, in our summary of what's new in Aqueduct version 3.0.

Aqueduct’s Water Risk Atlas was first launched in 2013, after three years of development. Since then, there have been several versions of the tool, each with updated data and user interface. To learn more about the history of Aqueduct, visit our About page.

Q: My organization set sustainability / water strategies using the old Aqueduct data. What should we do now?

Both datasets are screening tools and should be used to prioritize action. If you’ve already set goals on an established, short timeline using 2.1, please continue to use that data. If setting new goals, or using a longer timeline, we recommend using version 3.0.

Q: Does Aqueduct store my uploaded location data?

A: The Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas allows users to upload or select multiple locations, and download resulting scores. We never store location data. All data that users upload is deleted immediately – so please download/export data before closing the page if you’d like to save this information offline.

Q: Who uses Aqueduct?

A: Aqueduct’s users span many sectors and countries. Aqueduct’s tools and data have been used for years by companies (including some of the largest multinational corporations); country, state, and local government officials; academics and students; and water sector practitioners. To read examples of how organizations use Aqueduct, please visit our User Stories page

Each of our four tools has a different target audience and user base.

Companies are the main user of the Aqueduct Risk Atlas. Aqueduct Food is designed with development banks, companies that source food, and agricultural ministers in mind. Aqueduct Flood has been used by governments, companies, and disaster risk managers to avoid flood risks and determine where to invest for maximum resilience.

Q: I need help with my organization's data. Can WRI help me with my analysis?

A: Please first consult this FAQ page, which answers the most common user questions related to finding and interpreting data. If your question remains unresolved, please contact us at leah.schleifer@wri.org.

The Aqueduct team also works one-on-one with companies through the Aqueduct Alliance and our Corporate Water Stewardship projects to create tailored risk assessments, studies, and more. For more information on working with us in this capacity, please contact Colin Strong, Research Associate, Corporate Water Stewardship.