New Jersey Girl, 13, Invents Award-Winning App to Track Household Water Waste

New Jersey Girl, 13, Invents Award-Winning App to Track Household Water Waste https://ift.tt/Q1oJcCx

Neha Blunt’s web-based application has educated over 1 million people worldwide

Neha Blunt.
Credit: Action For Nature

NEED TO KNOW

• Neha Blunt invented a free web-based application to track household water waste
• The 13-year-old from New Jersey was inspired to make the website Water Savers after learning that a leaking faucet can waste over 2,000 gallons of water a month
• The application has educated over 1 million people worldwide

A 13-year-old in New Jersey invented a free web-based application to track household water waste. 

Neha Blunt of Marlton, N.J., won third place in the 2026 International Young Eco-Hero Awards for the nonprofit Action for Nature thanks to her invention, Water Savers.

The teenager was inspired to make the website after learning that a leaking faucet can waste over 2,000 gallons of water a month, according to Action for Nature. 

Stock photo of a dripping faucet.
Credit: Getty

Blunt launched her campaign in 2023 and spent seven months developing the application. She chose the web-based format to ensure accessibility among low-income folks. The website contains helpful information on water conservation, video tutorials, a game and other resources.

The simple tool has educated over 1 million people worldwide, per Action for Nature.   

The self-taught programmer won third place in the 2023 Congressional App Challenge and was appointed a Water Conservation Ambassador by the Evesham Environmental Commission.

Her award-winning creation has a bright future ahead. Next, she is working with the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority to launch an upgraded version of the website with more interactive features. 

“When resources seem abundant, people slip into passive habits and waste water without ever realizing it,” she said in a statement on Action for Nature’s website. “True environmental justice means everyone deserves access to clean water and a healthy living environment, no matter where they live.”

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Blunt gave more insight into her passion for water conservation in an interview with South Jersey Local News.

“My mom has always instilled in me and my [two] sisters that water is a very precious resource, and that it is all of our responsibility to use it sensibly and not waste it,” she said. 

Stock photo of a plumber fixing a toilet.
Credit: Getty

The teenager stated that accessibility is key to the mission of her website. 

“My campaign urges residents to adopt achievable lifestyle changes that support a sustainable future where every drop counts,” she told the local news outlet. “A few simple steps such as turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth, shaving or doing dishes, and installing a low-flow showerhead and fixing running toilets would make a huge impact.”

Blunt hopes she can encourage other young people to get involved in their communities. 

“You don’t have to wait until you’re older to make an impact,” she told South Jersey Local News. “You can take something that you’re passionate about, whether that’s technology, science, art or anything else, and use it to solve a problem that you care about.”

Blunt added, “Young people are creative, innovative and resourceful, and together we can take meaningful action for nature, our planet and our future.”