Akron-Canton Airport (CAK), one of the fastest-growing airports in the country, had to undertake several important projects in recent years to accommodate dramatic increases in passenger volume and aircraft activity, including subsequent effects to facilities and land. One such project was an enhanced deicing system to capture and treat aircraft deicer fluid in order to meet the stringent requirements set by the Ohio EPA’s NPDES permit program.

The new CAK deicer management system, jointly designed and constructed by Gresham Smith and two other leading design and engineering firms, is a state-of-the-art, sustainable deicer management facility unique to the aviation industry, and one of the few systems of its kind currently operating in the world. Integrating economical design with cutting-edge technologies, this new deicer management system is designed to minimize environmental impacts to groundwater and nearby streams in an effective, efficient and cost-conscious manner. The system’s deicer treatment plant features anaerobic fluidized bed reactor technology which is able to treat high concentrations of glycol-contaminated effluent at a low operating cost. In addition to providing the treatment system design documents, our team was actively involved in system construction, SCADA programming and startup. We continue to provide ongoing operations assessment, permitting and troubleshooting support.

The deicer management system serves as a model for effective, sustainable engineering. As CAK continues to grow and expand as one of the Midwest’s busiest airports, the system’s vast improvements will not only provide effective deicing treatment management, but also favorably position the airport for any new or evolving regulations.

Client

Akron-Canton Airport

Location

North Canton, Ohio

Project Type

Aviation, Stormwater

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Tim Arendt, P.E.
Tim Arendt, P.E.
Senior Environmental Engineer