Equalization Stations

Equalization Stations

Decreasing the Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) is among Clear Chattanooga’s goals. SSOs occur during heavy rain events when there’s not enough storage capacity in the City’s wastewater system to handle the wastewater and increased amount of stormwater. SSOs are a significant environmental and public health risk.

Equalization stations create capacity, prevent overflows and help equalize the flow through the system. The stations will temporarily store the excess wastewater and stormwater until the system has the capacity to handle it. These facilities are generally emptied within 48 hours.

Many factors go into selecting the site for an equalization station.

Connection access to the large sewer pipes underground
Close proximity to the overflow locations to help prevent Sanitary Sewer Overflows
The site cannot be in a Flood Zone.
Terrain suitable for construction
Hamm Road Equalization Station

Hamm Road Equalization Station

Operation of the Hamm Road Equalization Station project began in Summer of 2022. The project addresses SSOs in the area including the West Bank of the Tennessee River the near Moccasin Bend Environmental Campus.

The three stations are operational at this location, adding 30 million gallons of short-term storage capacity, and limiting the potential for overflows.

Check out this time lapse video of the construction.