Gloucestershire launches gully monitoring pilot project to tackle flood risks

Radar sensors have been added to gullies along Cirencester Road in Charlton Kings, St Georges Road and Pittville Circus. The system uses sound waves to monitor water levels in key gullies.  

The devices, managed by Kaarbon Tech, will collate information and send automatic notifications to the Flood Risk Management Team. The aim is that it will reduce reliance on manual surveying and lead to improved operational efficiency and response times. 

The pilot is being funded by the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR), which is funding the development of innovative gully monitoring across six other counties and aims to transform the way local drainage networks are monitored and managed. 

The pilot will run for 12 months and results from Gloucestershire and the pilots across the other six counties will be evaluated by the RSPAWIR alongside participant local authorities and will inform a best practice guide.  

Cllr. Martin Horwood, cabinet member for Nature, Waste Reduction, and Climate said: “Localised flash flooding causes huge amounts of disruption and we’re working to help reduce road closures, protect properties, and improve daily commutes during heavy rainfall. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change and the council is looking for ways to reduce the impact on our communities. We clear more than 130,000 gullies every year and if this scheme proves successful, it could offer the potential for wider adoption across other parts of the county.” 

Councillor Tooke, Cabinet Member for Business, Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructure commented: "This project demonstrates of how Gloucestershire County Council, through our new digital strategy, is seeking to embrace innovation and make smarter use of technology. By adopting pilot projects for advanced solutions such as these, we will deliver efficiency and enhancements to services for residents across the county."