The management of discharges
The management of water discharge is principally related to the civil sewage filtering and collection systems (or related systems) from the airport infrastructure and from the meteorological wash away of impermeable areas. The collection and separation of domestic sewage from all buildings present at the airport is assured at Malpensa by the sewage network which delivers sewage to the San Antonio consortium filter system, while the Linate sewage network is linked to the Peschiera Borromeo filter system.
Waters discharged into the sewer system (sewage and treated first rain waters) are subjected to systematic quality controls. At both airports the quality of the sewage is within the limits established by environmental regulations, as indicated in the tables reporting the parameters monitored.
LINATE - SEWER DISCHARGE DATA
| Parameter | Measurement unit | Average annual value | Parameter values Legislative Decree 152/06 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||
| COD | mg/l | 101.2 | 110 | 77.9 | 500 |
| BOD5 | mg/l | 46.7 | 52 | 36.7 | 250 |
| Total phosphorus | mg/l | 2.7 | 2 | 2.1 | 10 |
Source: SEA
MALPENSA - SEWER DISCHARGE DATA
| Parameter | Measurement unit | Average annual value | Parameter values Legislative Decree 152/06 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||
| COD | mg/l | 132 | 167.3 | 219.6 | 500 |
| BOD5 | mg/l | 59 | 74 | 102.4 | 250 |
| Total phosphorus | mg/l | 3.7 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 10 |
Source: SEA
The following table reports the waste water disposed of through sewerage, with the remaining quantities disposed of.
Water discharge into the sewer system (m3)
Note: 2016 data does not include SEA Prime, and Linate data does not include values relating to the discharges of SEA Energia. The discharges were estimated as equal to the total withdrawals from wells, net of estimated losses from the water transport network.
Source: SEA
De-icing treatment, relating to the defrosting of aircraft during the winter and when required by the airlines, is carried out at dedicated stands, equipped with a system for the collection of any water discharge from the activities and is treated as special waste; in 2018, a new product was using for de-icing in order to adapt to international standards.
At the beginning of the 2018 winter season, a new de-icing fluid management system was activated at Malpensa, providing for its treatment and final discharge into sewerage. The data shown thus refers to the disposal of unused residual liquids.
De-icing liquid drained (tons)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malpensa | 12.4 | 2.5 | 7 |
| Linate | 170.2 | 168.6 | 77 |
Source: SEA
Meteorological water from the airports is collected in service water vessels (Linate) and in the underground area (Malpensa), before, for the areas covered by the regional regulations, the separation of the first flush water (treated with oil removal systems and collected in public drainage collectors). Before final deliveries, meteoric waters are subjected to periodic quality checks for the parameters shown in the following tables, with qualitative characteristics amply compliant with relevant environmental regulations.
LINATE – CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SURFACE WATER DISCHARGE
| Parameter | Measurement unit | Average annual value | Parameter values Legislative Decree 152/06 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||
| Chromium VI | mg/l | 0.01 | <0.01 | 0.01 | 0.2 |
| Copper | mg/l | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.1 |
| Lead | mg/l | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.2 |
| Zinc | mg/l | 0.17 | 0.09 | 0.23 | 0.5 |
| Total hydrocarbons | mg/l | 0.10 | 0.11 | 0.28 | 5.0 |
Source: SEA
MALPENSA – CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOIL DISCHARGES
| Parameter | Measurement unit | Average annual value | Parameter values Legislative Decree 152/06 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||
| Ph | pH unit | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 8.0 |
| COD | mg/l | 10.4 | 15.0 | 10.2 | 100.0 |
| BOD5 | mg/l | 10.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 20.0 |
| Total suspended solids | mg/l | 6.1 | 7.8 | 6.0 | 25.0 |
| Total phosphorus | mg/l | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
| Lead | mg/l | 0.01 | <0.01 | 0.01 | 0.1 |
| Chromium VI | mg/l | 0.01 | <0.01 | 0.01 | 0.2 |
| Copper | mg/l | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.1 |
| Total hydrocarbons | mg/l | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
| Zinc | mg/l | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.04 | 0.5 |
| Total surfactants | mg/l | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
Source: SEA
Currently, water re-usage systems are not in place at the airports. Together with other major European operators, we are exploring many aspects related to Water Saving systems and the possible re-usage of meteorological water, in order to save aquifer drawn water and rationalize water consumption.
Spillage management
We commit to closely considering and ensuring the correct management of potential spillages.
In the case of the accidental spillage of fuel or oil in operational areas, runways and stands, procedures are in placed to intercept fluids before they reach the meteorological water drainage systems. A specific procedure applicable to the terminal movement areas is in place at the airports in compliance with environmental protection regulations.
Malpensa - Significant spills (No.)
(*) Spillages of hydraulic oil from aircraft, of hydraulic oil from operating vehicles and spillages of gasoline from operating vehicles.
Source: SEA
In these conditions, our Airport Maintenance and Environmental Operations Management Units are deployed to co-ordinate the cleaning, reclamation and restoration actions in the affected areas, of the compliance and security conditions, after any containment in the affected area of spreading by the laying of a sufficient number of oil absorbent panels by the Fire Services.
Linate - Significant spills (No.)
(*) Spillages of hydraulic oil from aircraft, of hydraulic oil from operating vehicles and spillages of gasoline from operating vehicles.
Source: SEA
The waste generated by the cleaning operation is transported for each airport to specific airport ecological islands, as established by company procedures, in compliance with the environmental protection, safety and workplace hygiene rules applied at both our airports. The spillages taken into consideration were those considered significant, in particular those which involved areas equal to or greater than 20 m2. The phenomenon’s trend follows that of the previous two years. It is important to underline how such values are absolute values unrelated to the number of movements, making the phenomenon frequency almost insignificant. None of these events had any impact on airport safety.