Sensors that can monitor river levels and issue early warnings about possible flooding are being trialled in Huntingdonshire.
The technology detects rises in water levels and will notify flood prevention officials on a digitial device if communities, homes and businesses are at risk.
It is hoped the approach will go on to be considered in other areas and is a step towards lessening the impact of flooding across the county.
Six initial locations have been identified for the project, starting with St Neots Rowing Club which councillors and other flood officials visited last week.
Cllr Anna Smith, Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, said: “Water management is an increasingly important issue for our region and the Combined Authority is working with communities to develop a better grasp of flood risks across Cambridgeshire.
“Forewarned is forearmed and these sensors can notify community flood groups so that they can respond more quickly to manage the risks and reduce danger.”
She added: “This pilot will ultimately benefit the whole area.
“Trialling smart sensing technology will gather sharper and more timely data on water flow and rising levels.
“That means that threats can be detected earlier, residents and businesses warned, and actions taken to help keep them safe.”
When flood officials are notified of potential flooding early, effective preparations on the ground can reduce the disruption for communities.
For example, roads can be closed with diversions put into place and gullies can be cleared to allow water to flow more efficiently.
These notifications sent out by the sensors during this pilot project will be separate from the existing flood warning messages from the Environment Agency.
The local trial will not affect or replace the Environment Agency’s flood warning service but aims to complement their current warnings.
The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Huntingdonshire District Council are both funding the sensors project.
Cambridgeshire County Council and Connecting Cambridgeshire, a body which aims to improve the county’s digital infrastructure, are also involved in the collaboration.
St Neots Rowing Club was chosen as the first location as the sensor is run from the LoRa wireless network recently deployed in the town.
As well as triggering early warning notifications about river levels, it can also measure the water temperature for club users.
The sensors will also be useful for the Dragon Boat crew, who had their boat unexpectedly washed away in 2021 by high levels of unpredicted flood water.
More sensors – which are all installed by Cambridgeshire company cThings - will soon be in operation at Hen Brook, Fox Brook and Duloe Brook in St Neots.
Three areas in St Ives will be next to benefit from the same trial, followed by Alconbury, Bartlow, Broughton, Buckden and Kimbolton and other highway locations with known flooding issues.
Cllr Simone Taylor, is Huntingdonshire District Council’s executive councillor for leisure, waste and street scene.
She said: We’re incredibly pleased that St Neots was chosen to be part of this initial pilot project trialling sensors to combat the risk of flooding.
“Huntingdonshire District Council is part of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Flood & Water Management Partnership...
“... it is part of our strategy to address predicted and historical flooding issues across the county to focus on how local communities can adapt and be more resilient to flood risk.”
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