Nearby Waterways API: rivers, canals and drains around a plot
Yes. water_story lists the mapped waterways around a Tamil Nadu map point, nearest first: rivers, canals (kaalvaai), streams, odai and drains, each with its name where mapped, its type, the distance in metres to its nearest point, and that nearest point. The default radius is 2 km, up to 5 km. It answers "which canal is near my land and how far" with a name and a distance, and gives a flood or setback question its context. It costs 1 credit per point.
https://verified.realestate/api/v1/tools/water_story- Price
- 1 credit per answer
- Source
- OpenStreetMap waterways
- Coverage
- Tamil Nadu
- Answers in
- Usually 1 to 2 seconds
Example
curl -X POST https://verified.realestate/api/v1/tools/water_story \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $LANDLENS_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"lat":12.901,"lng":80.2279,"radius_m":2000}'
{
"ok": true,
"status": "ok",
"data": {
"found": true,
"radius_m": 2000,
"count": 6,
"waterways": [
{
"name": "Buckingham Kaalvaai",
"type": "canal",
"distance_m": 1201,
"nearest_lat": 12.9001903204401,
"nearest_lng": 80.23893697277
},
{
"name": "Unnamed river",
"type": "river",
"distance_m": 1530,
"nearest_lat": 12.900687,
"nearest_lng": 80.2138018
}
]
},
"credits_charged": 1
}
A real answer from the API (22 Oct 2026, a point in Sholinganallur, Chennai), trimmed to two of the six waterways, with the reading note left out.
What it returns
Up to 8 waterways, nearest first, with the count of all within the radius.
| Field | What it holds |
|---|---|
waterways | Up to 8, nearest first: name ("Unnamed river" where none is mapped), type (river, canal, stream, drain), distance_m, nearest_lat, nearest_lng. |
count | How many waterways lie within the radius. |
radius_m | The radius searched, in metres. |
not_read, status, message | When no Tamil Nadu parcel resolves at the point: not_read is true and nothing was read. |
Inputs
The JSON body of the POST is the arguments. A point in decimal degrees, inside Tamil Nadu.
| Argument | Type | What to send |
|---|---|---|
latrequired |
number | |
lngrequired |
number | |
radius_m |
number | Search radius in metres. Default 2000, at least 200, at most 5000. |
Code
Set LANDLENS_KEY to your key. In an AI app, connect https://verified.realestate/mcp once and ask in plain words instead. In Postman, download this API's collection, import it (File, Import) and set apiKey.
curl -X POST https://verified.realestate/api/v1/tools/water_story \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $LANDLENS_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"lat":12.901,"lng":80.2279,"radius_m":2000}'
import os, requests
r = requests.post(
"https://verified.realestate/api/v1/tools/water_story",
headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['LANDLENS_KEY']}"},
json={
"lat": 12.901,
"lng": 80.2279,
"radius_m": 2000
},
timeout=30,
)
body = r.json()
print(body["status"], body["credits_charged"], body["data"])
const res = await fetch("https://verified.realestate/api/v1/tools/water_story", {
method: "POST",
headers: {
Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.LANDLENS_KEY}`,
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: JSON.stringify({
"lat": 12.901,
"lng": 80.2279,
"radius_m": 2000
}),
});
const body = await res.json();
console.log(body.status, body.credits_charged, body.data);
Is there a canal or river near 12.9010, 80.2279? How far is it?
Your AI says the price, lists the waterways nearest first, and suggests the zone checks that apply.
Responses
Every answer has the same envelope. What status can say for this call:
| status | What it means |
|---|---|
ok | The point was read: waterways listed, none within the radius, or not_read when no Tamil Nadu parcel resolves there. Charged 1 credit. |
not_found | The waterway layer could not be read. Nothing is charged. |
invalid_args | lat or lng is missing. |
Where the data comes from
The waterways mapped in OpenStreetMap for southern India (rivers, canals, streams, drains), as held in our copy.
Tamil Nadu. A point where no Tamil Nadu land parcel resolves is not read, since the waterway layer is cut to a rectangle that reaches into neighbouring states.
Our copy of the OpenStreetMap waterways is refreshed every 90 days.
The true nearest-point distance from the map point to each waterway line within the radius. Advisory grade: OpenStreetMap is traced from imagery, typically within 10 to 30 metres.
Who uses it
Home buyers
See how far the nearest canal or odai is from a plot before buying in a flood-prone area.
Developers
Name the waterways around a site in a feasibility note, with distances.
Property platforms
Show "Buckingham Canal, 1.2 km" on a listing.
Limits and good practice
- Advisory grade. OpenStreetMap waterways are traced from imagery and can be 10 to 30 metres off.
- Distance alone is not a regulatory verdict. zone_check tests a point against the water body and coastal zone layers.
- Many small waterways are unnamed in the map and come back as "Unnamed river", "Unnamed drain" and so on.
- Tanks, lakes and ponds are polygons, not lines: water_body lists them.
Pricing
Each point read costs 1 credit, an empty radius included; nothing when the layer could not be read. Credits come from the same LandLens wallet as the chat and the minis. How billing works.
For thousands of calls a month, a portfolio sweep or a platform built on these registers, we quote a customised bulk price, with invoicing to match.
Questions
Is there an API to find canals and rivers near a property?
Yes, this one. Send a point and it lists the mapped waterways within the radius, nearest first, with distances.
How much does it cost?
1 credit per point.
Does it include lakes and tanks?
No. It lists waterway lines (rivers, canals, streams, drains). water_body lists the tanks, lakes and ponds.
How accurate are the distances?
The distance is computed exactly to the mapped line, but the line itself is traced from imagery and is typically within 10 to 30 metres of the ground.
Updated 22 Oct 2026 · OpenAPI description