EA upgrades flood warning systems

The cash boost is part of a £4.75m project, in conjunction with the North East Region, which will allow savings to be made in both regions.

Telemetry systems are used to collect and display data from remote sites, known as outstations which include rain gauge sites, pumping stations and flood basins. Data collected allows the Agency to monitor rainfall and water levels in order to issue flood warnings when relevant. The upgraded systems will also provide information on water quality and water resources.

The project will upgrade all the region’s monitoring systems currently located at the North West headquarters in Warrington and area offices in Penrith, Preston and Birchwood. Information will be able to be shared between North West and North East to provide early warnings.

In the North West, more than 150 outstations will be upgraded and several new sites created alongside the investment in the Northern Telemetry System (NTS). Work to upgrade the telemetry systems will be completed by Autumn 1999 and the outstations will be in place by the year 2002.