WaterWise wins Rep. Brett Guthrie’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Kentucky’s Second District.

When asked what inspired the creation of WaterWise, Advika Rastogi said, “My idea for WaterWise came from a mix of loving technology, caring about the environment, and wanting to solve real-world problems. Lately, I’ve been noticing more about the global water shortage—especially how much it affects farming communities. Billions of people don’t have steady access to clean water, and that impacts food supplies, jobs, and local economies hard. That’s when I thought. What if we used technology to help solve this?

‘Personally, my grandfather was a farmer in the past, and I recall going to his farms, watching him water his plants first-hand. If he had the opportunity to implement technology to conserve water, I believe he would’ve taken the chance, driving my motivation to create WaterWise.

‘I wanted to build an app that helps farmers and nearby communities figure out the best times and amounts to water crops, saving water while growing more food. Traditional irrigation methods often follow fixed schedules or rough estimates, which can lead to overwatering, wasted resources, or under-watering that hurts crops. 80% of farms rely on surface irrigation, one of the most traditional methods of irrigation. Regardless of the day, farmers will water plants until they are guaranteed to be watered by flooding the plants, leading to overwatering and crop destruction. Many existing digital tools just give raw numbers without guidance, leaving farmers unsure what to do next. I saw a chance to combine machine learning, math models, and local input into a tool that turns data into clear, actionable steps.

‘I was also inspired by the potential for technology to create a bigger impact. WaterWise can reach far beyond a single farm or region, connecting people in multiple places to encourage sustainable water habits and smarter farming over time. The Congressional App Challenge came at the perfect moment, giving me a chance to bring the idea to life—coding, designing the layout, and thinking through how users interact with the app to make something that’s actually practical and useful. What struck me most is realizing that a well-designed app can do more than give numbers; it can help people save resources, improve lives, and make daily challenges a little easier. Combining my curiosity about technology, math, and environmental issues led to WaterWise—a project that links innovative ideas with practical solutions, helping farmers work smarter and use less water, one decision at a time.”