Frequently asked questions

The WaterProof tool allows the user to select a location anywhere in the world and receive a portfolio of recommended actions for given water security challenges, and a high-level ROI based on implementation costs and savings in water treatment.

The tool is available for free and open source, with a transparent methodology and metadata.

The key features of the platform include:

Some of the critical results provided to users include:

Some of the critical results provided to users include:

• Intuitive web-based interface that is relevant to a wide range of potential audiences
• Configuration of the infrastructure established to provide water from a basin
• The user can start an ROI calculation by simply entering their location of interest through the activity portfolios settings
• User ability to perform a more refined calculation by entering local information
• Integration of the impacts of climate change on water security and the calculation of ROI over time.
• Cloud computing, all models will run in the cloud
• There are no spatial limitations, Waterproof works for all macro-basins in the world.
• Initial language versions in English and Spanish

• Some of the critical results provided to users include:

• Summary of basin characteristics
• Mapping SbN's Recommended Portfolios
• Clear indication of costs and spatial coverage of NBS interventions
• Implementation progress, costs, and ROI plotted over time 
• Estimation of co-benefits for each equity portfolio (such as carbon) 
• Links to resources to take steps to advance a NBS program or project

An analysis is the result of the configuration of input parameters for the models to be executed from the case studies, and its corresponding result.

It is the application of the inVEST, RIOS and ROI models to conditions given by variables associated with a hydrographic basin in which a water use infrastructure is configured. The analysis involves the behavior of these elements against the implementation of nature-based solutions for the study site, allowing to see in results the value of return on investment, indicators, risks and potential areas of intervention-

The variables include physical and climatological variables, environmental indicators and geographic information (Raster)

The water use infrastructure starts from a catchment, which is the starting system of the process, this catchment can be real and modeled from real data, or fictitious to analyze possible future scenarios.

Each configured water consumption element must be associated with one or more water catchments, these elements can be treatment plants, hydroelectric plants, industries, among others.

The analysis considers operating costs for the entire infrastructure that is designed, this in order to estimate a true value of return on investment, in addition to using this information for the execution of the models.

Within the results of the analysis we can consult:

• Summary of Net Present Value

• Sensitivity analysis

• Opportunity results

• Profit analysis

• Indicators

• Results of the interventions

• Areas with SbN powers

• Comparison of land cover without implementation of NBS versus its implementation

To configure an analysis you must be registered on the Waterproof platform.

The analyzes are performed taking into account the following data entry variables.

• Analysis execution city
• Socio-economic, cultural and climatic region data
• Drinking water quality data for supply
• Geographical location of the catchment
• Infrastructure of the catchment system (Infrastructure elements and costs)
• Water demand
• Execution period
• Study basin area
• SbN implementation area
• Aqueduct database
• Information on the SbN to be implemented
• Infrastructure of the treatment plant or case study
• Case study costs Investment portfolio data
• Geographic information for the execution of the Invest model
• Geographic information for the execution of the RIOS model
• Current scenario database
• Business as usual scenario database

Waterproof app is a multi-currency software, which allows a user to select the currency for which they want to perform their analysis. Global databases will consider the US dollar (US $) as the base currency, so the system should be able to apply the exchange rate if required with another type of local currency.

No, the system allows you to configure a case study focused on water treatment systems, but you can also configure your own case study simulating the operating costs of your project.

The user has full control over his configured analyzes, if he wishes, he can share it publicly, otherwise only he will be able to see and consult his information.

Waterproof App currently models with three land cover scenarios; these are:

Current status: It is the current and real scenario of how certain environmental determinants are in the study areas thanks to the geographic information from which the system feeds.

Degraded future: It is a scenario already modeled, in which it is estimated through algorithms, how certain environmental determinants would behave when continuing with the activities currently carried out in a study area.

SbN Scenarios: These are the results generated by the InVEST and RIOS models, in which they show an approximation of how certain environmental determinants would behave when implementing a portfolio of nature-based solutions in the areas defined for the study.

The current Waterproof system executes 3 models, InVEST, RIOS and ROI, although each model can work independently, the Waterproof application is configured from its architecture to perform the simultaneous execution of the three models once the case of study, selecting the portfolio to be modeled and pressing the "Execute" button, it is for this reason that the system will only show the results of the complete execution.

In case you need to run a single model, we invite you to consult the page of Natural Capital Project, the provider of the InVEST and RIOS software, where you can download the tool for your personal use.