diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 26c3a35..eac998d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ Should have the following data files:
 1. `data/xr_allow_<2030|2040|FC>.nc` - NetCDF file
 1. `data/ne_110m_admin_0_countries.geojson` - can be downloaded with `npm run download:borders`
 
+If your data is else where, you can change `data/` to a symlink. For example `rm data;ln -s /path/to/data data`.
+
 ## API service
 
 The API web service reads the NetCDF file and returns the data as JSON which is used in the web application.
@@ -107,11 +109,10 @@ node build/index.js
 
 > To deploy your app, you may need to install an [adapter](https://kit.svelte.dev/docs/adapters) for your target environment.
 
-If the Python webservice is not running on `http://127.0.0.1:5000` then set `CABE_API_URL` environment variable to right URL.
-
+The web application server expects the Python web service to be running on `http://127.0.0.1:5000`.
 ## Cache
 
-The Python webservice caches all requests for 10 hours in the `./cache` directory. The cache can be cleared with
+The Python webservice caches all requests for forever in the `./cache` directory. The cache can be cleared with
 
 ```bash
 # stop webservice
diff --git a/src/lib/api.ts b/src/lib/api.ts
index 7c58ee4..5583488 100644
--- a/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -82,8 +82,7 @@ export function pathwayQueryFromSearchParams(
 	};
 }
 
-// export const API_URL = process.env.CABE_API_URL ?? 'http://127.0.0.1:5000'; // for production
-export const API_URL = import.meta.env.CABE_API_URL ?? 'http://127.0.0.1:5000'; // for development
+export const API_URL = 'http://127.0.0.1:5000';
 
 async function getJSON(path: string, myfetch = fetch) {
 	let url = `${API_URL}${path}`;
diff --git a/src/lib/server/db/data.ts b/src/lib/server/db/data.ts
index af6a176..bdec535 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/db/data.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/db/data.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { open_borders } from './borders';
 
-export const dataDir = process.env.CABE_DATA_DIR || 'data';
+export const dataDir = 'data'
 
 const bordersPath = dataDir + '/ne_110m_admin_0_countries.geojson';
+
 export const borders = await open_borders(bordersPath);
diff --git a/ws.py b/ws.py
index d0fcc35..95fabb2 100644
--- a/ws.py
+++ b/ws.py
@@ -37,11 +37,10 @@
 # TODO use class-based views for a reusable nc-file viewer?
 # TODO write tests with dummy data
 
-# DATA_PATH = Path("/data/DataUpdate_NDC_06_2024")
-DATA_PATH = Path("/data/DataUpdate_10_2024")
+CABE_DATA_DIR = Path("data")
 
 # Global data (xr_dataread.nc)
-dsGlobal = xr.open_dataset(DATA_PATH / "xr_dataread.nc")
+dsGlobal = xr.open_dataset(CABE_DATA_DIR / "xr_dataread.nc")
 
 # PCC convergence year is standard on 2050
 DEFAULT_CONVERGENCE_YEAR = 2050
@@ -123,8 +122,8 @@ def pathwaySelection():
 
 available_region_files = set(
     [
-        str(os.path.basename(p)).removeprefix("xr_alloc_").removesuffix(".nc")
-        for p in glob(str(DATA_PATH / "xr_alloc_*.nc"))
+        str(os.path.basename(p)).removeprefix("xr_alloc_").removesuffix(".nc") 
+        for p in glob(str(CABE_DATA_DIR / "xr_alloc_*.nc"))
     ]
 )
 
@@ -132,7 +131,7 @@ def pathwaySelection():
 def build_regions():
     countries_geojson = {}
     for g in loads(
-        Path(DATA_PATH, "ne_110m_admin_0_countries.geojson").read_text(encoding="utf8")
+        (CABE_DATA_DIR / "ne_110m_admin_0_countries.geojson").read_text(encoding="utf8")
     )["features"]:
         ps = g["properties"]
         countries_geojson[ps["ISO_A3_EH"]] = {
@@ -334,10 +333,10 @@ def gdpOverTime(region):
 
 
 # Map data (xr_alloc_2030.nc etc)
-ds_alloc_2030 = xr.open_dataset(DATA_PATH / "xr_alloc_2030.nc")
-ds_alloc_2040 = xr.open_dataset(DATA_PATH / "xr_alloc_2040.nc")
-ds_alloc_2050 = xr.open_dataset(DATA_PATH / "xr_alloc_2050.nc")
-ds_alloc_FC = xr.open_dataset(DATA_PATH / "xr_alloc_FC.nc")
+ds_alloc_2030 = xr.open_dataset(CABE_DATA_DIR / "xr_alloc_2030.nc")
+ds_alloc_2040 = xr.open_dataset(CABE_DATA_DIR / "xr_alloc_2040.nc")
+ds_alloc_2050 = xr.open_dataset(CABE_DATA_DIR / "xr_alloc_2050.nc")
+ds_alloc_FC = xr.open_dataset(CABE_DATA_DIR / "xr_alloc_FC.nc")
 
 
 def population_map(year, scenario="SSP2"):
@@ -401,7 +400,7 @@ def fullCenturyBudgetSpatial(year):
 
 
 # Reference pathway data (xr_policyscen.nc)
-ds_policyscen = xr.open_dataset(DATA_PATH / "xr_policyscen.nc")
+ds_policyscen = xr.open_dataset(CABE_DATA_DIR / "xr_policyscen.nc")
 
 
 @app.get("/policyPathway/<policy>/<region>")
@@ -514,7 +513,7 @@ def indicators(region):
 def get_ds(ISO):
     if ISO not in available_region_files:
         raise ValueError(f"ISO {ISO} not found")
-    fn = DATA_PATH / f"xr_alloc_{ISO}.nc"
+    fn = CABE_DATA_DIR / f"xr_alloc_{ISO}.nc"
     return xr.open_dataset(fn)