Skip to main content

Stormwater Division

The Stormwater Division manages public stormwater conveyances including drainage pipes and ditches across the City to safely convey stormwater runoff from streets and private property to streams, rivers, and lakes. The Stormwater Division ensures compliance with the City’s NPDES Permit and is dedicated to innovative and effective management of Chattanooga's stormwater system, water bodies, and green infrastructure—working not only to maintain the City’s assets for current citizens but also to preserve them for future generations.

Jump to:

Stormwater Services

The City of Chattanooga stormwater services aim to mitigate flooding, prevent pollution, protect water quality, and ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents. 

City services include:

Stormwater Drainage Systems

The city designs, constructs, and maintains drainage systems consisting of pipes, culverts, ditches, and channels to safely convey stormwater away from streets, buildings, and other structures.

Stormwater Management Facilities / Stormwater Control Measures

This includes retention ponds, detention basins, water quality units, green infrastructure, etc. strategically placed to capture and store excess stormwater runoff, reducing the risk of flooding downstream and removing pollutants before reaching natural water bodies.

Stormwater Infrastructure Maintenance

Regular maintenance of public stormwater infrastructure, including cleaning catch basins, removing debris from channels, and repairing or replacing damaged pipes or structures, is essential to ensure effective stormwater management.

Floodplain Management

The City develops and implements a range of floodplain management strategies to regulate development in flood-prone areas, reduce the risk of property damage, and protect public safety during storm events.

Water Quality Monitoring

Monitoring programs are implemented to assess the quality of stormwater runoff and its impact on receiving water bodies, guiding management decisions and prioritizing areas for improvement.

Green Infrastructure

Chattanooga has a range of green infrastructure initiatives such as rain garden and rain barrel programs, public education and outreach, and a range of other green programs to help manage stormwater more sustainably, reduce runoff volume, and improve water quality.

Street Sweeping

Regular street sweeping helps remove debris, sediment, and pollutants from roadways, preventing them from being washed into storm drains and ultimately into water bodies.

Regulatory Compliance

We enforce regulations and ordinances related to stormwater management to ensure that new developments and construction projects incorporate appropriate stormwater management practices, such as installing retention ponds or implementing green infrastructure techniques.

Emergency Response

In the event of severe storms or flooding, the City of Chattanooga provides emergency response services to assist residents, manage flooding, and ensure public safety.

Contact Us

Call
(423) 643-5877 (423) 643-5877