COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL -- This program involves our staff working with facilities to develop their own pollution prevention plans, and includes educating the public with informational materials and brochures and site visits by water quality analysts. In addition, the program mascot, CC Otter, visits a variety of public events that feature interactive exhibits on water quality, and programs are available for presentation to fourth-grade classes within the City throughout the school year.
ILLICIT DISCHARGE & IMPROPER DISPOSAL -- This ongoing program started in 1991 to identify and eliminate illicit discharges and includes emergency response to material spills with the Fire Department. Our involvement ensures protection of the environment, proper clean-up of materials, and increasing public awareness of ways to protect the environment by preventing harmful discharges and accidental spills. The program includes the starting of field screening, stream inspections, wet weather monitoring, and complaint response.
CONSTRUCTION SITE -- All new construction sites are reviewed and inspected for compliance with the ordinance dealing with erosion control and water quality/quantity. This program includes an Erosion Control Certification School, which is sponsored by the City. In these free sessions, attendees learn cost-effective ways to meet City requirements. Certificates are presented upon successful completion of a written test at the conclusion of the seminar. In addition, the City distributes a variety of information through free brochures available to contractors.
DRAINAGE COMPLAINTS AND CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM -- This office receives drainage complaints ranging from stopped-up ditches or driveway tiles to flooding and erosion of property. Drainage complaints are classified as emergency, priority construction, or maintenance and solutions devised. Emergency situations such as public hazards receive immediate attention from City crews. Priority construction jobs are handled according to the severity of the problem. Ditches and drainage structure cleaning are considered maintenance jobs.
Many of the ditch erosion problems are solved by the use of soft solution technology instead of the use of hard solutions (such as rock and mortar which increases water velocity and down stream water drainage and erosion problems.) Our main goal is to improve water quality. An erosion control fabric is now often "stapled" into a ditch to provide a stable medium for grass seed generation. There are two types: one provides a durable long lasting mesh to defy the tougher, steeper, or high volume ditches. The other will rot after the grass is established. The property owner can maintain both by moving the grass.
Mission: To achieve 100% compliance with applicable Federal and State clean water laws and regulations, and to maintain and improve the condition and flow of the storm water infrastructure to address any existing or anticipated problem areas.
City of Chattanooga / Public Works Department 1250 Market Street, Suite 2100 Chattanooga, TN 37402 PHONE: 311 or (423) 425-6311 | FAX: (423) 643-5862
