The API for watershed and flowpath delineation has gotten popular. Last month users made nearly 4,000 requests every day. Unfortunately, increased traffic can lead to lagging response and errors. If the situation continues, I may add throttling to limit the number of requests based on your IP address.

So, a request to all API users: Please space out your requests, and avoid making asynchronous requests. You can do this by adding a pause of 5 seconds between requests.

Spacing out your requests will protect against accidental overload and ensure the service remains responsive for everyone. The app is hosted on a shared web server. I love my host, Opalstack, but I’m also not in a position to upgrade my hosting plan, as it would cost quite a bit more than the $25 per month that I’m currently paying. (If you want to help keep the site free for everyone, you can always support the site via Buy Me a Coffee!)