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Enhanced technologies, improved efficiencies, cleaner water
| Sea-Tac Airport Honored as Winner of 2008 Environmental Achievement Award from Airports Council International - North America Read more about this award-winning storm management program in the achievement award application (2 MB, PDF) |
Sea-Tac Airport protects area creeks from flooding, contamination and sediment through its stormwater management program. It manages runoff generated from more than 2,300 acres, including those associated with airfield operations and industrial construction activities.
Central to this program is the industrial wastewater treatment system (IWTS). Continual improvements ensure stormwater potentially contaminated by aircraft fueling, de-icing, cleaning and maintenance does not enter nearby streams.
Recently completed $31 million upgrades will:
By 2008, an additional $14 million in improvements will further enhance the system's ability to manage de-icing compounds in the industrial wastewater.
The primary goal is to minimize or eliminate impacts to receiving waters within Miller, Walker, Des Moines and Gilliam Creeks. Although the airport has reduced the concentration of various contaminants in stormwater to levels comparable with other regional residential, urban and industrial areas, the Port is committed to improvements designed to further improve water quality.
Stormwater leaving the airport is routinely monitored for a variety of parameters in compliance with the Airport's NPDES permit. Monitoring results are reported to the Department of Ecology monthly on Discharge Monitoring Reports.
Each year the results are summarized in Annual Reports.
For many years, the Port has participated in two regional, basin-planning programs for Des Moines and Miller/Walker Creeks. Basin plans allow jurisdictions to:
A comprehensive stormwater management plan is also an integral part of the construction of the third runway.
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Storm drain flow at Sea-Tac Airport is monitored after heavy rain.
This sediment detention pond will collect run-off during construction and once the project is complete will be modified to collect and retain stormwater.