Enhanced Biological Attenuation of Aircraft Deicing Fluid Runoff Using Constructed Wetlands
Abstract
During winter months at Department of Defense (DoD) air bases, large amounts of aircraft deicing and anti-icing fluids (ADF) (primarily propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and various additives) are used to ensure flight safety during certain adverse weather conditions. Standard practices at both military air bases and private airports are to direct deicing effluent to large stabilization ponds, the sanitary storm sewer, vegetated swales, or directly to the environment. An issue with uncontrolled discharges of ADFs is the potential for high five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and low dissolved oxygen concentrations in receiving waters. Extreme conditions can cause eutrophication, algal blooms, acute fish die-off, and ecological risks. Discharge to the local publicly owned treatment works (POTW) or base federally owned treatment works (FOTW) is an alternative at some locations. However, the feasibility of this method needs to be determined on a site-specific basis for several reasons, including POTW design capacity, cost, logistics and regulations. Constructed wetlands have a history of use for treating polluted waters dating back to the early 1950s. In many instances, constructed treatment wetlands can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional treatment in a mechanical wastewater treatment facility. The use of constructed wetlands for treatment of ADFs is one possible method of resolving the problems described above. However, constructed wetlands have been applied to ADF treatment at only a few locations worldwide, and this application of wetland treatment technology is still innovative since it has rarely been applied on a large or full scale. A 0.6-acre horizontal subsurface flow (SSF) constructed treatment wetland (CTW) system was installed at the Westover Air Reserve Base (ARB) in Massachusetts to demonstrate the efficacy of this innovative technology in treating the ADF from on-site deicing operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA607343
Entities
People
- Barbara Nelson
- Jeff Karth
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command