Install an on-airport sand filtration system to control storm water quality and runoff volumes.
Sand filters consist of basins that capture stormwater runoff and then filter the runoff through a bed of sand in the floor of the facility. These BMPs can be configured either as a single basin or as separate sedimentation and filtration basins. Sand filters are very adaptable and can be used in areas with thin soils, high evaporation rates, and low-soil infiltration rates. They can also be used in limited-space areas and in places where groundwater requires protection. Sand filters remove particles and associated pollutants very well. Dissolved constituents are not removed well. Nitrate can be present in the filter effluent. Volume removal is very high where underlying soils are very permeable. Potential issues include: basins may not be used in the runway safety areas where they would be a hazard for aircraft; and sand filters are easily clogged by high sediment loads. Routine maintenance includes inspections every quarter and after large storms for the first year of operation and typically semi-annually thereafter to ensure water does not pond for more than 48 hours. Other maintenance activities include: removing trash and debris, media replacement at the end of the 50-year filter life, and monitoring vegetation growth and any hazardous wildlife.
Practice Information
| Staffing Requirements: | Low (10 – 50 hours per month) |
| Environmental Benefits: | Low environmental benefit |
Airport Characteristics
Categories
Case Studies
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA)
ABIA has numerous sedimentation/filtration systems (Austin sand filters) that provide the primary treatment for stormwater runoff for much of the airport.
Related Links
Stormwater Management Fact Sheet: Sand and Organic Filter. Stormwater Manager's Resource Center.
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