Water Quality
The storage and transfer of large quantities of oils for heating and fuelling, the use of cleaning detergents and the application of de-icing chemicals during winter months can all impact upon local water quality.
We ensure that the potential for spillages of any materials is minimised and that should any spillage occur that we have procedures in place to ensure that prompt action is taken and that the environment is safeguarded.
Discharge of cleaning chemicals are routed to the foul drainage system and treated at Kegworth Sewage Works. De-icing chemicals are controlled by a sophisticated surface water pumping system.
Our Policy
Our environmental policy commits us to:
- Seek to minimise the load placed on the environment by ensuring the sensitive storage and use of chemicals.
- Adopt rigorous programmes of monitoring and control to ensure that all drainage discharges are controlled in accordance with regulatory consents.
Our Programmes
In recent years, we have made a substantial investment in a surface water pumping system and all discharges from the airport site are continuously monitored by 1 of 5 water quality meters. This system ensures that de-icing materials are prevented from entering local brooks. We plan to improve this system still further by investing in another automated system to automatically close-off the airport's surface water drains in the event of a spillage.
We are constantly reviewing the cleaning and de-icing chemicals we use and in recent years have reduced the organic content of the major aircraft cleaning chemicals by between 50-80%. We continue to strive to use materials which have the least impact on the environment.
We also undertake regular audits and inspections of all oil storage facilities on the airport site to ensure oil storage is undertaken in accordance with best practice.