Chattanooga Sewage Spill Tops 6 Million Gallons

A July 3 power outage sent 6.2 million gallons of sewage into the Tennessee River without a public warning.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Utilities

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a slow river channel with a low concrete outflow pipe releasing a muddy plume beneath wooded bluffs. — A July 3 power outage sent 6.2 million gallons of sewage into the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, and city officials issued no public warning. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A power outage on July 3 caused 6.2 million gallons of sewage to spill into the Tennessee River from 929 Riverside Drive over nearly seven hours. City officials did not issue a public warning, saying river flow diluted the discharge enough to make one unnecessary.

Why it matters

The discharge was reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under a 2013 consent decree governing Chattanooga's sewer system, raising questions about how the city's infrastructure and notification practices handle large spills. For Chattanooga residents, the incident highlights how sewer failures can affect local waterways used for recreation.

The July 3 spill totaled 6.2 million gallons, moving at more than 925,000 gallons per hour, about ten times the combined 657,000 gallons from two October leaks into South Chickamauga Creek. The source does not detail any ongoing cleanup or water-quality testing results.

The players

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The federal agency that enforces the Clean Water Act and received the city's mandated report on the July spill under a 2013 consent decree.

City of Chattanooga

The municipal government responsible for the sewer system, which reported the spill and decided against issuing a public warning.

The details

The spill occurred at 929 Riverside Drive after a power outage and lasted nearly seven hours. Officials closed South Chickamauga Creek to recreational traffic after the October leaks, and the closure may last more than a year.

July 3: Power outage causes the 6.2 million gallon sewage spill into the Tennessee River.
October: Two sewage leaks discharge a combined 657,000 gallons into South Chickamauga Creek.
November 2, 2026: Reporting on the July spill and the absence of a public warning is published.

Utility Oversight

The July spill and October leaks are reported under the 2013 EPA consent decree that governs Chattanooga's sewer system, which requires the city to notify the federal government of discharges. The sequence of two incidents within months keeps the city's compliance under that agreement in focus.

Residents who use the Tennessee River or South Chickamauga Creek for recreation should check current closure status before entering the water. Because the city did not issue a public warning for the July spill, staying alert to official notices on local waterways is advisable.

The takeaway

Large sewage discharges can reach public waterways even when the water appears to flow normally, so checking local advisories before using a river or creek is a practical step. The gap between a discharge's volume and the absence of a warning is a useful reminder to ask city agencies directly about spills.