City of Chattanooga sewer bills are set to go up about $3 per month to help pay for a $250 million consent decree to seek to solve sewer overflow problems, the City Council was told Tuesday.
Lee Norris, administrator of public works, said the current rate is $6.36 per 1,000 gallons. He said that amounts to a sewer bill of about $31 per month.
Mr. Norris said the overall Chattanooga program is expected to cost at least $250 million.
He said the initial phase of work over five years should be about $152 million. This work will focus on "areas where we think we will get the fastest impact."
There will then be an evaluation period on the effectiveness of the program, then a second phase of work over six years.
Mr. Norris said a major aim is to curb periodic release of water and sewage during heavy downpours.
The consent decree came about after the city was sued in Federal Court on the sewage overflow issue.