[en] A detailed knowledge of the microscopic distribution of interactions and, especially, of the energy deposited in irradiated matter is of prime interest in the mechanistic understanding of subsequent effects. For electron impact roughly above 10 eV and for heavy ion impact approximately above 0.3 MeV/amu inelastic collisions leading to electronic excitation (discrete or continuum) of the target are responsible for the slowing-down process. The present work establishes a set of inelastic cross-sections for water (vapor) under the consistent theoretical framework of the Bethe-Born treatment to be used in a Monte Carlo transport simulation. For transitions in the continuum, photoionization data have been used for constructing the dipole oscillator strength, while non-zero momentum transfer collisions are accounted semi-empirically under the constrain of a binary behaviour of knock-on collisions. The shape of the entire secondary electron spectrum may then be fairly accurately predicted even at low electron impact energies where the Born approximation is inappropriate. Total ionization cross-section data have been used for normalization. For discrete transitions an empirical formula with the proper (Bethe-Born) high energy behavior was used. Comparisons are made with experimental results and other calculations. Various track-segment and single-collision results are provided. The work should be particularly relevant in finding quantitative correlation of observed effects with some track characteristics amenable to a mechanistic interpretation. (author)