Key:water

water
Description
Specification of a water body 
Group: Natural
Used on these elements
Documented values: 24
Requires
Useful combination
Status: approved

Used to specify a type of inland body of water. It must be tagged in conjunction with natural=water.

Possible values

These tables are a general overview of each feature. For detailed explanation of each, refer to their specific pages.

Natural features

Tagging Description Sample photo
water=lagoon A lagoon: a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. It's better to specify saltness of water with salt=yes/no.
water=lake A lake: A body of relatively still fresh or salt water. Artificially created water bodies should be tagged with water=pond or water=reservoir.
water=oxbow An oxbow lake: U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake.
water=rapids A fast-flowing, often turbulent, section of a watercourse such as a river, often containing exposed rocks or boulders. This tag is only for mapping rapids area. Rapids still have to be mapped on river centerline, see waterway=rapids and for more rapids properties whitewater:rapid_grade=*.
water=river The water area of a river. Should contain waterway=river way inside.
water=stream The water covered area of a stream: a naturally-formed watercourse which is narrower than a river
water=stream_pool A stream pool; a small and usually deep collection of fresh water, occurring along a stream. Water velocity in the pool is typically much lower than in the stream. Frequently found below a waterfall. May be used as a "swimming hole".

Artificial features

Tagging Description Sample photo
water=basin An area of land artificially graded to hold water. For more details you can use basin=*.
water=canal A body of a canal, a man-made channel for water. Should contain waterway=canal way inside.
water=ditch Water covered area of a waterway=ditch - a linear waterbody serving as a barrier or for draining surrounding land. Should contain waterway=ditch way inside.
water=drain The water covered area of a waterway=drain - an artificial waterway, lined with concrete or similar, used to carry superfluous water. Should contain waterway=drain way inside.
water=fish_pass The body of a fish pass for the fish to pass waterway dams or weirs. Should contain waterway=fish_pass way inside.
water=harbour A harbour is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked.
water=lock A lock chamber outline: a part of river, canal or lake system, level of which can be manipulated. The mapping of a lock and its parts is described on wiki-site lock=*.
water=moat A deep, wide defensive ditch, normally filled with water, surrounding a fortified habitation.
water=pond A pond: a body of standing water, man-made in most cases, that is usually smaller than a lake. Salt evaporation ponds should be tagged with landuse=salt_pond, open-air swimming pools — with leisure=swimming_pool.
water=reflecting_pool A reflecting pool: a water feature found in gardens, parks, and at memorial sites. It usually consists of a shallow pool of water, undisturbed by fountain jets, for a calm reflective surface.
water=reservoir A reservoir - An artificial body of water used to store water, usually formed by a dam over a natural water course to retain the water.
water=wastewater A clarifier/settling basin of a wastewater treatment plant.
The whole land area of the plant should be mapped with man_made=wastewater_plant.

Obsolete uses

Possible tagging mistakes

  • water:type=*
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
  • water=natural ‒ is redundant and should be regarded as a mistake.
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!

See also

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