City of Knoxville, TN
08/03/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/03/2026 10:57
Public Invited to Stormwater Discussions
The City's Stormwater Engineering Division is hosting four public discussions to share updates on its comprehensive stormwater system analysis and to hear from property owners about their flash flooding experiences:
• Tuesday, Aug. 11 - Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center, 3124 Wilson Ave.
• Wednesday, Aug. 12 - Cecil Webb Community Center, 923 Baker Ave.
• Monday, Aug. 17 - Christenberry Community Center, 931 Oglewood Ave.
• Thursday, Aug. 20 - Deane Hill Recreation Center, 7414 Deane Hill Drive
Background:
In recent years, the City of Knoxville has invested $4.3 million in an unprecedented stormwater system infrastructure inventory - a top-to-bottom mapping and evaluation of the age and condition of about 45,000 catch basins, box culverts, junction boxes and 400 miles of stormwater pipes.
At the same time, the City has invested millions of dollars to update and improve pieces of infrastructure that were outdated and unable to control flooding. Modernizing the stormwater infrastructure on Cherry Street in East Knoxville and Baum Drive in West Knoxville are two examples.
Yet storms are becoming increasingly violent. City rain gauges have recorded instances where more than an inch of rain deluges Knoxville in just 15 minutes. As the storms roll through, that rainfall amount multiples. Localized flash flooding occurs.
What's the connection between infrastructure modernization and climate resiliency? And how can your input at the upcoming August public meetings help?
Improving the capacity of pipes and drains to handle massive, sudden waves of run-off water isn't a guarantee that flash flooding can't happen. But stormwater upgrades certainly lessen the likelihood of flash flooding - and, if it happens, modern infrastructure lessens its severity.
In June, Mayor Indya Kincannon proposed - and City Council authorized - a $598,000 competitively-bid contract with Ardurra Group to help the City follow up on its first-ever holistic stormwater system inventory and assessment.
The inventory is a money-saving tool that will help City engineers prioritize upgrades. Proactively maintaining, upgrading and replacing pipes on the front end is less expensive and less disruptive than reacting when a pipe fails.
Ardurra Group, the most responsive of three bidders, will be helping to evaluate the citywide stormwater inventory findings and identify funding options to support future maintenance and improvement.
"Some of the stormwater pieces didn't even show up on any drainage maps before now," City Stormwater Chief David McGinley said. "The inventory was a game-changer. Now that we've got a much clearer understanding of our stormwater system - how water flows through the system - we can now prioritize upgrades where they are needed the most.
"But, that said, data is always stronger when it's reinforced with community dialogue. We hope Knoxville residents and business owners share their experiences with flooding or even near-misses at these public meetings."
Need help with language translation or accessibility?
The City of Knoxville ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services.
To request language translation services, contact the City's Human Resources Department at [email protected] or 865-215-3100. For disability accommodations, contact the HR Department at [email protected] or 865-215-3100.
• Tuesday, Aug. 11 - Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center, 3124 Wilson Ave.
• Wednesday, Aug. 12 - Cecil Webb Community Center, 923 Baker Ave.
• Monday, Aug. 17 - Christenberry Community Center, 931 Oglewood Ave.
• Thursday, Aug. 20 - Deane Hill Recreation Center, 7414 Deane Hill Drive
Background:
In recent years, the City of Knoxville has invested $4.3 million in an unprecedented stormwater system infrastructure inventory - a top-to-bottom mapping and evaluation of the age and condition of about 45,000 catch basins, box culverts, junction boxes and 400 miles of stormwater pipes.
At the same time, the City has invested millions of dollars to update and improve pieces of infrastructure that were outdated and unable to control flooding. Modernizing the stormwater infrastructure on Cherry Street in East Knoxville and Baum Drive in West Knoxville are two examples.
Yet storms are becoming increasingly violent. City rain gauges have recorded instances where more than an inch of rain deluges Knoxville in just 15 minutes. As the storms roll through, that rainfall amount multiples. Localized flash flooding occurs.
What's the connection between infrastructure modernization and climate resiliency? And how can your input at the upcoming August public meetings help?
Improving the capacity of pipes and drains to handle massive, sudden waves of run-off water isn't a guarantee that flash flooding can't happen. But stormwater upgrades certainly lessen the likelihood of flash flooding - and, if it happens, modern infrastructure lessens its severity.
In June, Mayor Indya Kincannon proposed - and City Council authorized - a $598,000 competitively-bid contract with Ardurra Group to help the City follow up on its first-ever holistic stormwater system inventory and assessment.
The inventory is a money-saving tool that will help City engineers prioritize upgrades. Proactively maintaining, upgrading and replacing pipes on the front end is less expensive and less disruptive than reacting when a pipe fails.
Ardurra Group, the most responsive of three bidders, will be helping to evaluate the citywide stormwater inventory findings and identify funding options to support future maintenance and improvement.
"Some of the stormwater pieces didn't even show up on any drainage maps before now," City Stormwater Chief David McGinley said. "The inventory was a game-changer. Now that we've got a much clearer understanding of our stormwater system - how water flows through the system - we can now prioritize upgrades where they are needed the most.
"But, that said, data is always stronger when it's reinforced with community dialogue. We hope Knoxville residents and business owners share their experiences with flooding or even near-misses at these public meetings."
Need help with language translation or accessibility?
The City of Knoxville ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services.
To request language translation services, contact the City's Human Resources Department at [email protected] or 865-215-3100. For disability accommodations, contact the HR Department at [email protected] or 865-215-3100.
City of Knoxville, TN published this content on August 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 03, 2026 at 16:57 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]