Enhanced Biological Attenuation of Aircraft Deicing Fluid Runoff Using Constructed Wetlands

• Other Authors: NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING SERVICE CENTER PORT HUENEME CA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Water Pollution and Control; *ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; *ATTENUATION; *WASTE MANAGEMENT; *WETLANDS; *DEICING MATERIALS; TOXICITY; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; OXYGEN; ADDITIVES; FLUIDS; HABITATS; SUBSURFACE; DISSOLVING; RUNOFF; ETHYLENE GLYCOL; UNDERGROUND; EUTROPHICATION; *BIOLOGICAL ATTENUATION; *AIRCRAFT DEICING FLUID RUNOFF; *CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS; ADF(AIRCRAFT DEICING FLUID); SSF(SUBSURFACE FLOW); ENIVRONMENTAL EFFECTS; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA429017; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA429017

The Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center partnered with Wetland Solutions Inc., Anteon Inc., University of Western Washington and University of Colorado have demonstrated the ability of a constructed subsurface flow (SSF) treatment wetland to reduce the negative environmental effects of aircraft deicing operations. The field-scale, 0.6 acre SSF wetland was designed to treat runoff from the application of aircraft deicing fluid (ADF) at Westover Air Reserve Base in Springfield, Massachusetts. While exact chemical composition of ADFs are proprietary, ADF consists of approximately 80 percent propylene or ethylene glycol, 18 percent water, and 2 percent of additives for improved functionality. Environmental impacts of ADF usage are the potential of high five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and low dissolved oxygen (DO) in receiving waters. Extreme conditions could create eutrophication, algal blooms, acute fish die-off, and ecological risks from both low DO and toxic additives in the ADF. The SSF wetland demonstrated the ability to reduce ADF discharge concentrations by 80 percent. The technology is safe for use at air facilities because it does not produce a desirable bird habitat since all flow is below ground surface. The original document contains color images. Prepared in cooperation with Wetland Solutions, Inc., Gainsville, FL., Anteon Inc. Univ. of Western Washington, and Univ. of Colorado.