What Is the Water Intelligence Score?
Every water asset in the Hi3 database receives a Water Intelligence Score (WIS) — a composite 0–100 rating that quantifies the quality, value, and potential of a water asset.
Score Components
Flow Rate Score (0–25 points)
Measures the volume and reliability of water output.
| Flow Rate | Points |
|---|---|
| 1,000+ GPM | 25 |
| 500–999 GPM | 22 |
| 100–499 GPM | 18 |
| 50–99 GPM | 14 |
| 10–49 GPM | 10 |
| 1–9 GPM | 6 |
| < 1 GPM | 2 |
Seasonal flows receive a 5-point deduction.
Geological Score (0–20 points)
Assesses formation quality, depth, and stability.
- Premium formations (basalt, limestone, granite): +4
- High elevation (>5,000 ft): +4
- Deep aquifer (>500 ft): +3
- Named geological formation: +2
Legal Score (0–20 points)
Evaluates water rights clarity and transferability.
- Prior appropriation (verified): 20
- Prior appropriation (unverified): 18
- Riparian (verified): 15
- Groundwater permit: 14
- Unknown/None: 4–6
Sustainability Score (0–20 points)
Long-term water availability and recharge.
- Confined aquifer: +5
- Perennial flow: +3
- Public access (well monitored): +2
- Fossil water: –3 (non-renewable)
Rarity Score (0–15 points)
Premium for scarcity and uniqueness.
- Fossil water: +10
- Confined aquifer: +5
- Very high flow (500+ GPM): +3
- Verified asset: +1
Grade Scale
| Score | Grade | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | S | Exceptional — rare, world-class asset |
| 75–89 | A | High-value — strong candidate for development |
| 55–74 | B | Above-average — good fundamentals |
| 35–54 | C | Average — data gaps or constraints present |
| 0–34 | D | Below-average — significant issues |
Opal Springs: The Benchmark
Opal Springs (Oregon) scores 94/100 — the highest verified score in our North American database. It represents the Gold Standard: 2,500 GPM perennial flow, basalt-confined aquifer, verified prior appropriation rights, and gold-quality data.
Important Note
The WIS is a data-driven model. It reflects the quality of available data. An "unverified" asset may have a lower score not because it's a poor asset, but because data is incomplete. Field verification can significantly improve scores.