Airport Surface Water Quality

International Airport Surface Water Runoff

International airports create vast amounts of surface water runoff, generated from the extensive areas of concrete pavement, aprons and runways, all of which need to be kept free from icing during the winter months.  To keep the airport operational, antifreeze agents such as polyethylene glycol and potassium acetate, are sprayed on these surfaces during the coldest winter months and on the aircraft parked on the stands. The contaminated surface water runoff enters the drainage system where the first flush (after heavy rainfall or a storm event) may be diverted to on-site lagoons, providing balancing and treatment.

Water quality instrumentation including the Protoc TOC analyser is extensively installed to continuously monitor and control the surface water, within the site drainage system. Output signals from the instruments may be used to divert good quality surface water to a local water source and collect data for reporting purposes. Other hydrocarbons may include Kerosene, oils and fire-fighting products which may also ingress into the drainage system. Depending upon the potential contaminant, alternative measurement techniques may include non-contact oil film detection or oil in water analysis, using UV fluorescence.

Industrial Suface Water Runoff

Large engineering companies, distribution centres and manufacturing sites may have large areas of hard-standing with associated surface water runoff. Surface water quality discharging to local water sources, needs to be carefully monitored to prevent pollution entering the local environment. A site audit is often necessary to identity the potential risks and the chemical components that could cause surface water contamination. Vehicles transiting across the site and potential chemical spillages typically pose the main risks.

The measurement of pH to identify the ingress of acids and bases is commonly installed at the point of discharge, to provide continuous water quality measurement. Oil film detection would be another key measurement parameter especially for sites where high vehicular movement or engineering activities result in oil related pollution. Dissolved organics from hydrocarbon release or product loss (especially at food, drink and chemical production sites) using Total Organic Carbon measurement, is also extensively installed.

Key Water Quality Parameters

• Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
• Oil Film Detection
• Turbidity
• pH & Conductivity

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