Chattanooga has received its long anticipated MS4 storm water discharge permit. This permit, issued by the State of Tennessee s Division of Water Pollution Control, requires Chattanooga to implement Best Management Practices to reduce pollutants from entering streams, wetlands, and the Tennessee River, and to monitor improvements in the water quality. The permit became effective October 1, 1996.
The permit stipulates that Chattanooga inventory its storm water drainage system and develop a maintenance schedule. The permit also requires the City to monitor and reduce the amount and types of pollutants entering the system. These include such things as grass clippings, fertilizers, and herbicides from lawn care; sewage from leaking sewers and failed septic tanks; sediment from improper construction practices; antifreeze, grease, and oil from automobiles; and, chemicals from industry and other commercial businesses.
Please remember that it is illegal to dispose of anything in the City drainage system. Wastes such as grass clippings, leaves, and used oil should be disposed of properly or recycled. Additionally, potential pollutants such as fertilizers or other chemicals should be stored indoors where they will not come in contact with rainwater. With your assistance, we can reduce the pollution entering our streams and the Tennessee River, and make Chattanooga an even better place to live. If you have any questions, please contact Doug Fritz
The City has begun several major flood and drainage relief projects throughout Chattanooga. When completed, the cost of these projects will be in excess of $2.3 million. The largest is the North Terrace flood relief project in Brainerd at a cost of approximately $825,000. Other flood relief projects include a $400,000 undertaking for North Chattanooga s Forest Plaza area, $310,000 to purchase land for a regional detention facility along McCutcheon Road, and a $300,000 alleviation off Earl Lane in Hixson. The City also has awarded a $447,890 contract to Mayse Construction Company for 27 other priority drainage problems.
In the past year, the City has corrected 347 drainage related problems and has 342 additional work orders underway. However, there are approximately 1,550 additional drainage requests awaiting investigation. As a drainage request is investigated, the solution is classified as emergency, priority construction, or maintenance. Emergency jobs, such as public hazards, receive immediate attention from City crews. Priority jobs are corrected according to the severity of the problem. Ditch and drainage structure cleaning is considered maintenance. If you have a drainage problem, please report it to Jim Higdon at 423-757-4877.
You may have asked yourself, If it rains everywhere, how and why is the rain polluted only in Chattanooga? The answer is the rain, itself, is not generally polluted. Storm Water becomes polluted when rain falls to earth and comes into contact with pollutants on parking lots, streets, yards, and buildings. Pollutants we put there. These pollutants are then carried with the storm water until they are discharged downstream into our streams and river. The more pollutants we allow into our river, the sicker the river gets.
Did you ever wonder where all those cigarette butts tossed out the car window end up? Yes, in our streams and river. What about that little bit of oil spilled while filling up a lawnmower? Bingo, the first minor rain and it goes into our river.
In undeveloped areas, these pollutants are not usually found in high enough quantities to be harmful. However in highly populated areas, like Chattanooga, there is more than enough pollutants to harm our streams and river. Even worse, in areas with large amounts of pavement, the pollutants are washed into our river in a much more concentrated form because they are carried directly off the pavement or into a drainage ditch that, in turn, goes directly to our streams. So, the next time you spill a little oil while filling up your lawnmower, please clean it up. It makes a big difference in keeping our streams and river clean.
It seems like a Catch-22. To avoid contaminating our waterways, we are told that pollutants should be disposed of properly . But rarely is it explained how to do that.
Below is a list of easy ways to make sure these pollutants stay where they belong--out of our streams and river!
Through the storm drain stenciling project, volunteers have stenciled Dump No Waste-Drains to River on over 3,200 of the City s 5,000 catch basins.
To date, the Clean Water-Clear Choice educational programs have reached over 74,000 citizens. For information on these programs or storm drain stenciling, contact Valorie Hamilton Osborne
More than 125 people have earned their erosion control certification. Interested? Contact Doug Fritz