New flood-monitoring system goes live at five canal locations

EDGEWATER — With hurricane season approaching, Edgewater has added a new tool aimed at improving how the city responds to flooding. Crews recently installed a canal monitoring system at five locations around the city, giving officials real-time information on water levels and flow during storms and high-tide events.

The new devices are designed to help city staff determine when water is rising, where it is moving, and where pumping may be needed. According to city officials quoted in Spectrum News, the system is intended to make storm response more precise in a community that has dealt with repeated flooding concerns in recent years.

The five monitoring points are at the intersection of Juniper Road and a drainage canal, Orange Tree Drive and a drainage canal, West Indian Boulevard and Pine Tree, West Indian Boulevard and Kumquat, and the canal outfall on South Ridgewood Avenue. By tracking conditions at multiple points, the city says it can better understand how water moves through the canal network during heavy rain and tidal impacts.

Mayor Diezel DePew said the sensors will help the city identify exactly when levels are getting too high and where pumping should be directed. Beyond immediate storm operations, officials say the data will also be used by public works and utilities staff to guide long-term infrastructure planning and identify areas where drainage improvements may be needed.

Residents interviewed by Spectrum News welcomed the move. One resident said any effort to gather more data and address the problem scientifically should help, while another said videos from Hurricane Ian showed how destructive flooding can be for neighbors whose homes were damaged or who were displaced. The city has a history of flooding, making preparedness measures especially relevant ahead of the 2026 storm season.

The report said the devices were installed in March at a total cost of more than $42,000, paid from the city’s general fund. City leaders also hope the monitoring effort could strengthen Edgewater’s case for future state or federal funding to support larger flood-mitigation projects. For residents, the practical takeaway is simple: the city is trying to build a better picture of local drainage conditions before the next major storm puts that system to the test.