KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville City Council is moving forward with the next phase of planning for the city’s stormwater system after a comprehensive study revealed significant infrastructure concerns.
The city recently completed its first full inventory of stormwater assets, a multi-year, $4.3 million project that mapped and assessed around 45,000 components. That includes catch basins, culverts, junction boxes and roughly 400 miles of underground pipe.
City engineers say the findings highlight major challenges, with about 25% of the system failing inspection.
Stormwater engineering chief David McGinley said one of the biggest issues is aging infrastructure, particularly corrugated metal pipes installed decades ago.
“Those pipes typically have a lifespan of 25 to 35 years,” McGinley said. “We’re now seeing rusted-out bottoms and structural failures as they reach the end of their life.”
The city estimates it could take 10 to 15 years to address the backlog of needed repairs, with total costs potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars.
Recent problems illustrate the urgency. Crews were working this week to fix a drain failure on Cherry Street that caused roadway flooding. Other trouble spots, including along Fifth Avenue, have seen pump failures and clogged pipes that led to flooding concerns.
McGinley said the new system map will allow the city to prioritize repairs and respond faster when problems arise.
To manage costs, the city plans to extend the life of some pipes using lining techniques that can add decades of use. Full replacement will only be used when pipes are too damaged to repair.
City leaders say the study marks a significant step forward, giving Knoxville its most complete picture yet of its stormwater system — and a roadmap for improving it.
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Knoxville stormwater, infrastructure issues, city council Knoxville, aging pipes Tennessee, flooding concerns, stormwater repairs, Knoxville engineering, Cherry Street flooding, Fifth Avenue drainage, East Tennessee infrastructure
