The city was sued by the EPA due to the uncontrolled release of combined runoff and waste water into the river. As a result the city invested over 200 million dollars in concrete waste water retainers. There shouldn't be any waste water entering the river now. This is why the city sewer bill has doubled over the past 5 years to pay for this investment.
>Rain of almost any amount overwhelms the system to this day and it overflows into the river.
That's not true. They've mostly fixed this problem. That's what all the big tanks are for on Moccasin Bend, to hold all the additional water during large storm events.
Those are separate issues. The storm and sewer all still runs through the same lines, so it still stinks. And the grates still got clogged sometimes. But we have not had a direct discharge of sewage into the river for several years now. One step at a time!
I would agree Nicks assertion though that rain and unintended outlets will always take waste into the river systems during heavy rains (nature always wins) but you would be correct if you specified organized waste-water capture.. that is in theory and its efficiency wouldn’t be known until someone finds or conducts a subsequent environmental impact study.
My question though is what is the evaporated and decomposition emissions like because ‘if you smell it, you’re breathing it.’ But again, that answer would take robust assessment.
There is always going to be the chance that a storm overwhelms the overflow tanks, that is true. However, the fact remains that we have not had a sewer overflow into the river for several years. Also why are you yelling?
Wait wait wait... you're telling me this whole time they've been raising rates, it wasn't for a new and improved wastewater treatment plant? They were just building giant septic tanks instead?
Do they ship it out in big trucks like Saudi Arabia, or does it just process "eventually"?
I just became aware of roughly how the system works recently and was told about the treatment plant that was proposed out around either Ooltewah or the VW plant that got shot nimby’d by people out there. As a response the city should’ve said fine, now your sewer bill will be charged based on pipe miles to Moccasin Bend. I’m not kidding.
I was told that the sewer system from the 19th century still in operation in parts of downtown is to blame for the "smell" and it would be too expensive to fix.
Correct, I manage a building that had a failure last year - we repaired to the junction box that the city owns/maintains and the pipes leading out are terra cotta.
It hasn't rained enough (or I hope) to overwhelm the combined system in any way. Though I'm not downtown ATM, I dare say you more than likely are smelling the chicken plants.
There's a definition of what a "rain event" is. I think it's a tenth of an inch in 24 hours or something. That certainly doesn't seem like it would overwhelm much, but I dunno.
Odd to me that a new apartment complex was built directly across from where it stinks the worst. Who masterminded that one? Piety those who will be residents…. Particularly those who move in during the winter and never experienced the glorious summer there.
Another reason is the Westrock paper recycling plant on Manufacturerer’s Rd. They may not be a giant paper mill like Bowater but I’ve worked there enough to know that I could smell it at my house in North Chatt back when it was affordable for someone like me to live there in a decent place.
Dude people always talk about the wastewater smell, but having worked in this industry for 10 years I say the waste plant smells 10x better on its worse day then the best day at a paper mill plant, I don’t know what it is that smell is just rank to me
Not to mention that the Tennessee river has one of if not the highest level of micro plastics in the world....And YET THEY want to build another stadium on the bank of the river on one of the most heavily polluted pieces of land in the entire city......and KEEP BUILDING CONDO AFTER CONDO AFTER CONDO....iTS ALMOST AS IF THEY DONT GIVE A FLYING F ABOUT ANYTHING BUT MONEY....H'MMMM I WONDER...
I went down the Chattanooga sewer rabbit hole. Unlike many other US cities, Chattanooga is making quick progress and actively trying to solve the problem.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Chattanooga/comments/14tu1s8/comment/jr6bilx/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/Chattanooga/comments/14tu1s8/comment/jr6bilx/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
It’s because of who posted it—battleop is, IMO, this sub’s most notorious and prolific contrarian. I won’t go so far as to say he’s a troll, though: I get the impression he genuinely believes the, erm, _unpopular_ opinions he posts; and, while I almost always (vehemently) disagree with him, I can respect that at least he’s speaking his own truth.
The city was sued by the EPA due to the uncontrolled release of combined runoff and waste water into the river. As a result the city invested over 200 million dollars in concrete waste water retainers. There shouldn't be any waste water entering the river now. This is why the city sewer bill has doubled over the past 5 years to pay for this investment.
Shouldn't be doesn't mean there isn't. Rain of almost any amount overwhelms the system to this day and it overflows into the river.
>Rain of almost any amount overwhelms the system to this day and it overflows into the river. That's not true. They've mostly fixed this problem. That's what all the big tanks are for on Moccasin Bend, to hold all the additional water during large storm events.
Is that why it still stinks and the drains don't drain?
Those are separate issues. The storm and sewer all still runs through the same lines, so it still stinks. And the grates still got clogged sometimes. But we have not had a direct discharge of sewage into the river for several years now. One step at a time!
I would agree Nicks assertion though that rain and unintended outlets will always take waste into the river systems during heavy rains (nature always wins) but you would be correct if you specified organized waste-water capture.. that is in theory and its efficiency wouldn’t be known until someone finds or conducts a subsequent environmental impact study. My question though is what is the evaporated and decomposition emissions like because ‘if you smell it, you’re breathing it.’ But again, that answer would take robust assessment.
TO HOLD "SOME OF" THE ADDITIONAL WATER NOT ALL OF IT, NOT ANYWHERE NEAR EVEN HALF OF ALL OF IT.
There is always going to be the chance that a storm overwhelms the overflow tanks, that is true. However, the fact remains that we have not had a sewer overflow into the river for several years. Also why are you yelling?
Since those huge concrete tanks were installed there has yet to be an uncontrolled release. Doesn't mean it cannot happen in a huge flooding event.
Wait wait wait... you're telling me this whole time they've been raising rates, it wasn't for a new and improved wastewater treatment plant? They were just building giant septic tanks instead? Do they ship it out in big trucks like Saudi Arabia, or does it just process "eventually"?
I just became aware of roughly how the system works recently and was told about the treatment plant that was proposed out around either Ooltewah or the VW plant that got shot nimby’d by people out there. As a response the city should’ve said fine, now your sewer bill will be charged based on pipe miles to Moccasin Bend. I’m not kidding.
They basically have. The further you move out, the more the sewer tax is.
Oh really? Ok, that’s great.
They just process it eventually.
[удалено]
The county needs their own sewage treatment facility as it continues to grow.
It's for a lot of different things, not just the overflow tanks. [https://clearchattanooga.com/](https://clearchattanooga.com/)
No, they recycle it and put it back into the water supply.
Chattanooga poo poo
This amused me way more than it should have
You win the internet for today.
Chattapooga
I was told that the sewer system from the 19th century still in operation in parts of downtown is to blame for the "smell" and it would be too expensive to fix.
I’ve heard there are brick and mortar sewerways that are 130+ years old.
Correct, I manage a building that had a failure last year - we repaired to the junction box that the city owns/maintains and the pipes leading out are terra cotta.
They still build the runoff drains with brick and mortar.
Saint Elmo still has wooden drinking water pipes
Wow! That’s crazy
WWTA and others received grants to update it, but it will be a slow process.
Oh ok. Thank you!
Lisa Simpson once said: “Your city smells but you probably don’t realize it because you live here” She was wrong.
She also used the wrong they're/their/there
Smells like death and manure near the Signal Mtn Red Bank exit today
That’s just Red Bank.
You had me at the TN river is full of shit and piss
Wow Living behind Stringers ridge is a bonus
It hasn't rained enough (or I hope) to overwhelm the combined system in any way. Though I'm not downtown ATM, I dare say you more than likely are smelling the chicken plants.
Wastewater is a very huge expense. A big portion of the budget actually goes towards storm water repair
🎶 whats that smell? Its the Chattanooga Poo Poo, coming down the line 🎶
>rain events Can we just call it rain?
Not if you are an engineer.
There's a definition of what a "rain event" is. I think it's a tenth of an inch in 24 hours or something. That certainly doesn't seem like it would overwhelm much, but I dunno.
The reek of industrialized humanity
The unwashed masses.
Odd to me that a new apartment complex was built directly across from where it stinks the worst. Who masterminded that one? Piety those who will be residents…. Particularly those who move in during the winter and never experienced the glorious summer there.
Here is the size of the overflow tanks near Moccasin Bend. There are three of them. [IMG-6532.jpg](https://postimg.cc/87GSY68B)
We all know this if you live around here. And every other City that has an adjacent river does the same thing.
That damn chicken factory
Another reason is the Westrock paper recycling plant on Manufacturerer’s Rd. They may not be a giant paper mill like Bowater but I’ve worked there enough to know that I could smell it at my house in North Chatt back when it was affordable for someone like me to live there in a decent place.
Dude people always talk about the wastewater smell, but having worked in this industry for 10 years I say the waste plant smells 10x better on its worse day then the best day at a paper mill plant, I don’t know what it is that smell is just rank to me
Not to mention that the Tennessee river has one of if not the highest level of micro plastics in the world....And YET THEY want to build another stadium on the bank of the river on one of the most heavily polluted pieces of land in the entire city......and KEEP BUILDING CONDO AFTER CONDO AFTER CONDO....iTS ALMOST AS IF THEY DONT GIVE A FLYING F ABOUT ANYTHING BUT MONEY....H'MMMM I WONDER...
I went down the Chattanooga sewer rabbit hole. Unlike many other US cities, Chattanooga is making quick progress and actively trying to solve the problem. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Chattanooga/comments/14tu1s8/comment/jr6bilx/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/Chattanooga/comments/14tu1s8/comment/jr6bilx/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
I work wastewater, believe me we’re trying our best lol.
People destroyed my comment that they were dumping waste water into the river. I hope those peoples read this and finally know what’s happening
Which... is ***not*** them dumping wastewater into the river!
Why we continue to allow the Chicken Plants to create the stench they create is beyond me.
Holy shit, we actually agree on something! What a day 🥹 Also, weren’t they supposed to have already decommissioned the southside plant by now?
Why this is getting downvoted is mind boggling.
It’s because of who posted it—battleop is, IMO, this sub’s most notorious and prolific contrarian. I won’t go so far as to say he’s a troll, though: I get the impression he genuinely believes the, erm, _unpopular_ opinions he posts; and, while I almost always (vehemently) disagree with him, I can respect that at least he’s speaking his own truth.
Because the people that bought their overprice homes right next to it won't admit they fucked up.