Geotek

The specific problem we are working on is the lack of access to safe and clean drinking water in many communities, particularly in developing countries. This problem has serious health implications, as drinking contaminated water can lead to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid fever.

The scale of the problem is significant, both in the communities we are working in and globally. In Nigeria, for example, it is estimated that less than 50% of the population has access to basic water supply services, and only 29% have access to basic sanitation services. This means that millions of people in Nigeria are at risk of waterborne diseases due to the lack of access to safe and clean drinking water.

Globally, the problem is even more severe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, and 4.2 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation services. This results in approximately 485,000 deaths each year from diarrhea caused by unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hand hygiene.

Several factors contribute to this problem, including limited infrastructure, inadequate water treatment facilities, and poor sanitation practices. In some cases, water sources may be contaminated due to natural sources of pollution, such as arsenic or fluoride in groundwater. Climate change is also expected to exacerbate this problem, as changes in rainfall patterns and increased droughts can reduce water availability and increase water stress in many regions.

Our Solution is Geotek, a predictive maintenance and water quality monitoring system for rural water infrastructure. Getoek utilizes IoT technology and Machine learning to ensure access to clean and safe water in communities. The system consists of hardware sensors that are installed at water sources such as boreholes and wells. The sensors utilize machine learning to detect for mechanical faults and monitor key water quality parameters such as pH, turbidity, temperature, and conductivity, and transmit the data and inferences in real-time to a cloud-based and app platform for analysis and visualization.

The system uses LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technology for data transmission, which is a low-power, long-range wireless communication protocol designed for IoT applications. This allows for remote monitoring and management of water sources in even the most rural areas without internet connectivity.

Our predictive maintenance feature alerts users of potential issues with the water sources, allowing for quick intervention to prevent water contamination and other health risks. The system is designed to be user-friendly, allowing stakeholders such as NGOs, government agencies, and water companies to easily install and operate the system to improve access to safe water for communities.

Our solution serves communities in rural and semi-urban areas in developing countries that lack access to clean and safe water. This target population includes individuals and households who depend on groundwater sources such as boreholes, wells, and springs for their daily water needs.

Currently, this population is underserved as their water sources are often contaminated with harmful pollutants, leading to waterborne illnesses and even death. According to UNICEF, in Nigeria alone, over 122,000 children under the age of five die annually from waterborne illnesses. This highlights the urgent need for a solution that can ensure the provision of safe and clean water for these communities.

Geotek aims to address this need by providing real-time water quality monitoring and predictive maintenance for water infrastructure. By alerting communities of any contamination or issues with their water sources, the solution empowers them to take action and prevent waterborne illnesses. Additionally, the solution helps water providers and government agencies to ensure the continuous delivery of safe and clean water to these communities, reducing the burden of waterborne illnesses and improving the overall health and wellbeing of the population. Our solution aims to directly and meaningfully improve the lives of those who lack access to clean and safe water, by providing a sustainable and reliable solution for monitoring and ensuring the quality of their water sources.

At Geotek, we are well-positioned to deliver this solution because our team is composed of individuals who have experienced the water problem firsthand. Who have lived and worked in the communities we aim to serve. Our team members have a deep understanding of the local culture, traditions, and values, which allows us to effectively engage and communicate with community members.

Our team lead Ichor Joshua, has worked on numerous projects focused on improving access to clean water in underserved communities in Nigeria. He suffered from a deadly typhoid fever at age 12, a water borne disease. He has since dedicated his life to water works, he has experience working with local NGOs and government agencies, which has provided him with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing water monitoring solutions.

Our technical officer Ga’am John, is a also a hydrologist, who has engaged and served communities without water access, collecting valuable data and key insights that have aided the design of our solution. On our team, are good technicians, engineers and computer scientist who have contributed immensely to the development of a user centered and impact driven product.

To ensure that our solution is designed with community input, we have engaged in extensive community outreach and consultation through our citizen science application that allows community members to contribute daily insights into the problem. We have also held focus groups with community members to understand their specific needs and challenges related to water access and quality. We have also partnered with local NGOs and government agencies to ensure that our solution aligns with local priorities and goals.

Our team has also taken steps to ensure that our solution is culturally appropriate and accessible to all community members, regardless of their literacy or technical skills. We have developed user-friendly interfaces and provided training and support to ensure that our solution can be easily operated by community members.

Our solution in its pilot stage, currently serves around 11,000 people in the North-Central region of Nigeria. However, we plan to expand our reach to more communities and serve a larger population with its solution in the near future.

We are applying to Solve because we believe that the platform and network can help us overcome some of the barriers we face as a social enterprise focused on providing clean water solutions to underserved communities. Specifically, we hope to benefit from Solve's expertise in connecting Solver teams with partners who can provide technical and financial support, as well as access to markets and networks.

One of the main barriers we face is limited funding and resources to scale our solution and reach more communities. We hope that by being selected as a Solver team, we can connect with potential partners and investors who share our vision of providing clean water to all. Additionally, we hope to benefit from Solve's expertise in navigating complex legal and regulatory frameworks, which can be a major challenge for social enterprises like ours.

At Geotek, we believe that Solve can provide us with valuable support and resources to help us overcome the barriers we face and accelerate our impact in providing clean water solutions to underserved communities. We are committed to working collaboratively with Solve and other partners to achieve our shared goal of providing access to clean water to everyone, everywhere.

Geotek, our solution aims to provide real-time monitoring of boreholes, which supply the majority of water to communities in sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve this, we are utilizing sensors to measure water quality and dysfunction, and sends data to a cloud-based platform via a LoRaWAN network. Our system uses machine learning algorithms to detect changes in water quality and infrastructural dysfunction and predict maintenance needs. Private companies, NGOs, and government agencies can purchase access to the platform for predictive maintenance of their boreholes.

The problem we are addressing is a lack of reliable access to clean water in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in rural areas. The majority of the population relies on boreholes for their water supply, but these are often poorly maintained and can become contaminated. This can lead to a range of health issues, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women.

The scale of the problem is significant, with over 60 million people in Nigeria alone lacking access to clean water. In addition to the health impacts, the lack of access to water also has economic and social consequences, including lost productivity and reduced educational opportunities.

Geotek has the potential to directly and meaningfully improve the lives of the communities we serve by providing access to reliable, clean water. This will have a range of positive impacts, including improved health outcomes, increased productivity, and better educational opportunities.

Our solution is innovative though its use of sensors and machine learning algorithms, providing real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of boreholes, which is a significant improvement over current maintenance practices. Additionally, the use of a LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) network allows for reliable transmission of data from even remote locations with low power consumption, increasing coverage and inclusivity.

Our impact goals for the next year include deploying our water management solution to at least 50 communities, providing access to safe and reliable water sources for over 65,000 people. We plan to achieve this by partnering with local governments and organizations to identify and prioritize communities with the greatest need, conducting community outreach to ensure buy-in and participation, and installing our water management system in each community.

Over the next five years, our impact goal is to expand our solution to reach 500 communities and provide safe and reliable water access to over 250,000 people. We plan to achieve this by continuing to develop and improve our technology, scaling our operations, and building strategic partnerships with governments, NGOs, and other organizations.

We also aim to create local jobs and empower communities by training and employing local technicians to maintain and operate our systems. By doing so, we can contribute to the local economy and build capacity within the communities we serve.

To achieve our impact goals, we will work closely with the communities we serve, conducting ongoing needs assessments and soliciting feedback to continuously improve our solution. We will also leverage partnerships and collaborations to expand our reach and impact, and we will be transparent and accountable in our work.

At Geotek, we are measuring  progress towards our impact goals through several indicators. Firstly, the number of water systems that are installed, tested and fully operational in communities is a key indicator of progress. Secondly, the number of individuals and households that have access to clean and safe drinking water is being monitored. Thirdly, the reduction in waterborne diseases in communities served by our water systems. Fourthly, the cost savings for communities who no longer need to purchase bottled water or travel long distances to fetch water will be tracked.

we also conduct regular surveys and community engagement sessions to collect feedback and understand the impact of their water solutions on the community. This feedback is being used to refine and improve the design and delivery of Geotek's solutions. In addition, we are using remote monitoring technologies such as citizen science to track the performance of our water systems in real-time. The data collected from these monitoring systems is being analyzed to improve the maintenance and reliability of their solutions.

we are committed to transparent reporting and accountability to our stakeholders and partners. we regularly share progress reports and impact assessments with key stakeholders to track the effectiveness of their solutions and to identify areas for improvement.

Our theory of change for is based on the fact that that real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of boreholes can significantly improve access to clean water and reduce downtime of boreholes. By providing a continuous stream of data on the status of boreholes, our solution enables proactive maintenance, repairs, and replacement of faulty components before a breakdown occurs. This can help reduce the cost of maintenance, minimize the time taken to repair or replace faulty components, and improve the lifespan of boreholes.

In the short term, our immediate output is to provide real-time data on borehole functionality and maintenance needs, which will enable timely and proactive maintenance interventions. In the longer term, our outcome is to ensure that boreholes operate optimally, thereby providing reliable access to clean water for communities. This will be achieved by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of water borehole maintenance, and by reducing the incidence of borehole breakdowns and resulting downtime.

We have built a strong foundation for our theory of change by conducting market research, engaging with communities, and collaborating with stakeholders in the water sector. We have also conducted pilots and field tests to evaluate the effectiveness of our solution. Our approach has been validated by third-party research, which has shown that predictive maintenance can significantly reduce downtime and maintenance costs for boreholes. We are continuously refining our solution to ensure that it meets the needs of the communities we serve, and we are committed to using data-driven insights to guide our decision-making.

Geotek leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and machine learning algorithms to monitor and predict the performance of boreholes and water quality in real-time. Our system is composed of a network of sensors installed on boreholes, which collect and transmit data on the water quality, mechanical dysfunction, downtimes and other relevant parameters to a central cloud-based platform.

The data is then analyzed using machine learning algorithms, which generate actionable insights for users to monitor and predict the performance of boreholes. For instance, the algorithms can predict when a borehole is likely to fail, or having a dysfunction thereby allowing users to take preventive action before the failure occurs.

Additionally, Our solution employs Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LoRaWAN) technology, which allows for the transmission of data over long distances with low power consumption. This technology enables the sensors to be deployed in remote areas where access to power and connectivity is limited.

Overall, Geotek's solution's core technology is the integration of IoT and machine learning algorithms with LoRaWAN technology, allowing for real-time monitoring and prediction of borehole performance.

At Geotek, we are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. Our company's leadership team includes women geoscientists who bring valuable perspectives and insights to the table. we recognize the importance of having a diverse team with a variety of experiences and backgrounds to help create innovative solutions that meet the needs of all people.

To promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, we have set specific goals to increase the diversity of our team at all levels. we actively seek out and recruit diverse candidates and have implemented blind hiring practices to reduce unconscious bias in the recruitment process. we also offer mentorship and professional development opportunities to support underrepresented groups in the field of water and geology.

In addition to our internal efforts, our solutions also prioritize equity and inclusivity. For example, our borehole monitoring solution aims to provide real-time data on water levels to underserved communities that may not have access to reliable water sources. By improving water management in these areas, our solution has a positive impact on the quality of life for all individuals, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. Overall, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally and through its solutions to create a better future for all.

As a technology company focused on water management, our business model involves providing end-to-end solutions to our customers. We work with a range of customers, including government agencies, private sector companies, and communities, to provide services that enable effective management of water resources.

Our products and services include remote monitoring and management of water infrastructure, data analytics, and customized software solutions. We also offer training and capacity building for water management professionals as well as community members.

To provide these products and services, we operate on a subscription-based model, where customers pay a recurring fee for access to our technology and services. We also generate revenue by offering customization services for our software solutions.

Our business model is designed to be sustainable and scalable, allowing us to continue providing value to our customers while also growing our impact in the water management sector.

At Geotek, our plan for becoming financially sustainable is based on a combination of revenue streams. Initially, we seek grants and donations from impact investors who share our mission and vision. This will allow us to fund our early-stage research and development activities, as well as pilot projects.

As we establish our track record of success, we plan to scale up our operations and pursue revenue-generating activities. One potential source of revenue is selling our technology and services to water management authorities, such as government agencies and NGOs, who are seeking to monitor their boreholes and water supply systems for preventive maintenance. We plan to offer our services at a competitive price point, while maintaining high-quality standards.

Another potential revenue stream is providing consultancy services to our clients. Our team of geologists, data scientists, and engineers will provide expert advice on water management and sustainable groundwater use. We plan to leverage our expertise to offer training and capacity-building programs to local communities and water management authorities, helping them build their capacity to manage water resources sustainably.

We also plan to explore the possibility of raising investment capital from impact investors who share our vision for sustainable water management. We believe that our innovative technology and data-driven approach to borehole monitoring will be a compelling investment opportunity for those seeking to make a positive impact on the world while generating a financial return.

Our end goal is to create a financially sustainable business model that will allow us to continue our work towards sustainable water use and management, ultimately improving access to clean water for those in need.

In the early stages, we funded our research and community engagement with personal funds as university students. moving forward, we began leveraging an improved fund raising model by engaging in potential funding accelerators and a=incubators.

we have received grants of up to $ 25,000 so far from Swarovski Foundation Creatives for our future and British council #Destination zero. This grants have supported our research,  pilot program and product design thus far.

we have also received valuable in-kind support from CERN Idea square, and CROWD4SDG programs which have helped develop our knowledge in impact and sustainability.