Operators' Walkthrough Lab
A next-gen training platform designed for real-world understanding of drinking water disinfection approaches, including system design and operation, as well as a fundamental understanding of the importance of clean water to community health and quality of life.
About Initiative
The Operators’ Walkthrough Lab (OWL) was created through a partnership with Community Circle on Scaling Business Innovation for Humanity, (formerly RESEAU) , a nonprofit center of excellence dedicated to fostering innovative solutions for drinking water quality and community health in Indigenous and non-urban communities, and Indigenous Services Canada.
OWL is a next-gen training platform designed to convey a real-world understanding of drinking water disinfection approaches for these communities, including system design and operation, as well as a fundamental understanding of the importance of clean water to community health and quality of life.
Our industry collaborating partner, Transform Interactive, has compiled and built the platform using Unity. OWL works on smartphones (iOS and Android), as well as Windows and Mac computers.
Who is OWL for?
OWL is an educational tool designed for communities and youth, water operators and those interested in water operations, professional associations, educational institutions and students, and regulatory agencies who require a fundamental understanding of drinking water disinfection and how water-health affects community health.
What are OWL’s learning objectives?
- Increase awareness of and confidence in water systems among community members
- Activate and empower communities and networks of individuals to improve community health via water infrastructure and other improvements
- Inform and prepare students graduating into the water industry about technology, required mathematics, regulations and the importance of water-health
- Skills development and training for building local economies
- Remote water system technical assistance and trouble-shooting [in the future]
- Inform governments and NGOs on challenges involved with water treatment in small communities
- Provide access to relevant programs, resources and funding from all levels of government
Download OWL here:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6697241e5814c93f6a23b0f3/66db617511c39b8f66ec60e3_6697241e5814c93f6a23b384_OWL.png)
Mac version special instructions as follows:
1) The default 'Archiver Utility' un-zipper breaks the app, so download and install 'The Unarchiver' from app store. Then right click (or control+left click), select 'Open with' and click 'The Unarchiver'.
2) Once it unzips, open the .app and you will get a warning message. Click 'OK' and then right click (or control+left click) on the .app, and click 'Open'. You will get another warning message, you can click 'Open' and the app will open.
3) Once you do this once, you can simply just click double-click the app and it will open normally
For iOS (Please download TestFlight and then Download the OWL application)
For Inquiries please email: connect@communitycircle.org
Related Initiatives
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We aim to engage 15 Indigenous “anchor” communities from different regions selected based on their water health challenges, willingness and ability to participate, and willingness to become ambassadors for the Community Circle process to nearby communities. Anchor Centres are frontline innovation platforms for first-hand experience utilizing our strategic co-innovation model and a source of information, opinion, and support for nearby communities that might share similar challenges (who will then be encouraged to participate in Community Circle’s projects and activities, amplifying the model/knowledge assets throughout each region.
Braiding Knowledge Systems
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Design for People
A partnership with universities to build capstone design teams.
Support Water Health
You can help increase access to clean, safe water in Indigenous and rural communities. Consider becoming a Community Circle partner or investor to increase the impact and scope of our work.