🌊 What is Donyatt River Monitor?

Donyatt River Monitor is a community-focused service that provides real-time river level data and flood risk information for the River Isle at Donyatt, Somerset. Our mission is to help residents stay informed about water levels and potential flood risks through accessible, easy-to-understand information.

The River Isle is a tributary of the River Parrett, flowing through Somerset and affecting communities in Donyatt, Chard, Ilminster, and surrounding villages. During periods of heavy rain, water levels can rise quickly, making real-time monitoring essential.

⚙️ How It Works

Our system operates automatically to provide you with the most current river level information available.

The monitoring process works as follows:

1. Data Collection: Our website checks for new data every 15 minutes. The Environment Agency typically records readings every 15–30 minutes depending on river conditions, with more frequent updates during high-flow events.
2. Data Processing: Our system fetches the latest readings from the EA API and processes them for display.
3. AI Analysis: Our prediction engine analyzes current levels, historical patterns, and weather forecasts.
4. Website Update: The website automatically refreshes with new data, charts, and risk assessments.

This entire process runs automatically 24/7, ensuring you always have access to the latest information.

📊 Data Sources

🤖 AI Prediction Methodology

Our Flood Forecast feature uses an intelligent analysis system to predict potential flooding. The prediction methodology considers multiple factors:

• Current River Level: The most recent reading from the monitoring station
• Rate of Change: How quickly the water level is rising or falling
• Historical Data: Past patterns and typical behavior at different levels
• Rainfall Forecasts: Predicted precipitation for the next 48 hours
• Time to Threshold: Estimated time to reach alert (1.2m) and flood (2.0m) levels

Our website checks for new data every 15 minutes, and the AI system updates its predictions alongside fresh river level readings from the Environment Agency, ensuring risk assessments reflect current conditions and forecasted weather.

Important Note: While our predictions aim to be helpful, they are estimates based on available data. Always follow official Environment Agency flood warnings and advice for safety-critical decisions.

💻 Technology Stack

Donyatt River Monitor is built using modern, reliable technologies to ensure the service remains available and performant:

Backend: Python scripts running on Microsoft Azure handle data fetching, AI analysis, and automatic updates to the website.

Frontend: WordPress provides a user-friendly, mobile-responsive interface for viewing river levels, charts, and forecasts.

Data Pipeline: Our website checks for new data every 15 minutes and updates automatically when fresh readings are available from Environment Agency sensors.

🛡️ Safety Information

Alert Thresholds

• 🟢 Normal: Below 1.2m — No action required
• 🟡 Alert: 1.2m to 2.0m — Be prepared, monitor closely
• 🔴 Flood: Above 2.0m — Take action to protect property

Record Level: The highest recorded level at this station is 2.632m on 31 December 2000.