TO: Brian D’Amico, USEPA/OW/EAD 

FROM: Steve Strackbein and Mary Willett, ERG 

DATE: July 12, 2011 

SUBJECT: Centralized Deicing Pad ADF Collection Efficiency 

Introduction 

Collection and control of spent deicing fluid is the primary purpose of most airport deicing control 

programs. EPA performed a review of airport deicing collection operations to estimate the efficiency of 

centralized deicing pads (CDPs) in collecting available spent aircraft deicing and anti-icing fluid (ADF). 

The purpose of this memorandum is to document the results of this review. 

Description of CDP Technology 

CDPs restrict aircraft deicing activities to specified locations designed for aircraft deicing. The goal of a 

CDP is to concentrate aircraft deicing activity to a centralized location such that the containment area 

can be minimized, ADF contaminated storwmater volumes are collected, and concentrations of deicers 

in that stormwater are maximized. EPA defines a CDP as a facility on an airfield designed for aircraft 

deicing operations, constructed with a drainage system separate (or that can be made separate) from the 

airport main storm drain system. The separate drainage system is connected to a wastewater storage 

facility. 

CDP Collection Efficiency 

EPA used estimates of an airport’s Type I and IV ADF usage1

 to calculate the volumes of applied and 

available ADF at airports that utilize CDPs. Available ADF refers to the quantity of applied ADF that 

is available for collection. Not all applied ADF is available for collection due to ADF adherence to 

aircraft surfaces, evaporation, wind losses, and wheel tracking. EPA has conservatively estimated 

available ADF to be 75 percent of applied type I deicing fluid and 10 percent of applied type IV antiicing fluid, excluding applied ADF used for defrosting or deicing for safe taxiing. Figure 1 presents a 

detailed example of how EPA calculated available ADF. 

EPA evaluated ADF collection efficiencies at seven airports utilizing CDPs to determine the percentage 

of available ADF captured by CPDs. All but one of the airports EPA evaluated collected at least 60% of 

their available ADF. 

 

1

 ADF usage estimates can be found in section 9.2.1 of the TDD
Memorandum 

July 12, 2011 

Page 2 of 4 

Table 1 presents CDP collection efficiencies reported by seven airports, applied and available ADF 

estimates using EPA’s assumptions, and the calculated collection percentage of available ADF at each 

airport. 

The deicing practices of the seven airports evaluated by EPA (and included in Table 1) are described 

below: 

Denver International Airport - All deicing is done on deicing pads, with the exception of low level gate 

deicing (up to 25 undiluted gallons of ADF) to allow for safe plane movement. 

Dayton International Airport - The Dayton airport has instituted a centralized deicing system which is 

comprised of four deicing aprons. 

Philadelphia International Airport – Philadelphia’s Deicing Facility includes two aircraft deicing aprons, a 

deicing fluid delivery system, a deicing fluid recovery system, and a fully integrated computerized aircraft 

guidance and deicing control system. The facility can handle three wide-body aircraft and four smaller 

aircraft simultaneously. 

Cincinnati International Airport - Airport management only allows the main aircraft deicing and anti-icing 

operations to be conducted at deicing pads. The airport has 12 deicing pads. 

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport - Aircraft deicing/anti-icing fluids at Detroit Metro are applied 

at four remote deicing pads located near the runways. Limited deicing is performed at the gates, for 

morning frost removal and wide-body aircraft. When deicing is performed at the gate, a glycol collection 

vehicle (GCV) collects deicing fluid from the gate area and transfers the fluid to one of the four deicing pad 

collection sumps. 

Pittsburgh International Airport - Aircraft deicing/anti-icing is performed on dedicated deicing pads. The 

airlines are not permitted to perform deicing procedures at the gate areas under normal winter conditions. 

PIT has five deicing pads for commercial and cargo aircraft deicing and there are also two deicing pads for 

military operations. Two of the five commercial pads, Pads C and E, have fixed, pedestal mounted booms 

equipped with forced air and each of these pads can accommodate three planes at one time. The airport 

indicated in comment to the proposed rule that the collection efficiency includes the use of GCVs at the 

deicing pads and gates. 

Salt Lake City International Airport - All deicing is done on deicing pads, where runoff collection systems 

are installed, with the exception of low level gate deicing to allow for safe plane movement. The airport has 

21 designated deicing spaces. Aircraft movement on the pads is controlled by the airline in charge of the 

pad and aircraft deicing/anti-icing fluids are applied to aircraft using mobile aircraft deicer trucks. 
Memorandum 

July 12, 2011 

Page 3 of 4 

Table 1. Airport CDP Collection Efficiencies and Available ADF Collection Calculations 

Airport 

ID 

Airport Name CDP 

Collection 

Efficiency of 

Applied 

ADF (except 

where noted) 

Applied ADF2 Available ADF 

(Type I Applied x 0.75) + 

(Type IV Applied x 0.10)

Collection 

Percentage of 

Type I Type IV Available ADF 

1028 Denver 

International 

42%3 949,256 104,314 722,355 61% 

1123 Dayton 

International 

55-60%4 80,616 9,964 61,458 81-88% 

1139 Philadelphia 

International 

85-90%5 862,385 117,598 658,548 85-90% (see 

footnote 5) 

1113 Cincinnati 

International 

70%6 608,461 114,534 467,799 70% (see 

footnote 6) 

1138 Detroit 

Metropolitan 

Wayne County 

49%7 2,001,632 150,660 1,516,290 70% 

1107 Pittsburgh 

International 

60-668 830,704 113,278 634,356 60-66% (see 

footnote 8) 

1066 Salt Lake City 

International 

20%9 125,519 34,232 97,562 33% 

 

2

 See Table 9-4 of Technical Development Document for the Final Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for the 

Airport Deicing Category.

3

 Denver reported that they collect 68 percent of their applied ADF; with 42 percent recycled and identified as collected from 

the deicing pad system and 26 percent discharged to their POTW and identified as collected from limited deicing areas and 

taxiway/runway areas. See EPA’s site visit to Denver International Airport. A copy of the site visit report can be found in 

the public docket, EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0038-0513. 

4

 As reported to EPA during EPA’s site visit to Dayton International Airport. A copy of the site visit report can be found in 

the public docket, EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0038-0159. 

5

As reported in Philadelphia International Airport’s response to EPA’s Airport Deicing Questionnaire (comment to Question 

38). Amount represents percentage collection of “used deicing fluid”. Results of the questionnaire can be found in the public 

docket, EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0038-1091. 

6

 As reported to EPA during EPA’s site visit to Cincinnati International Airport. Amount represents percentage collection of 

“spent ADF”. A copy of the site visit report can be found in the public docket, EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0038-0502. 

7

 As reported to EPA during EPA’s site visit to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. A copy of the site visit report 

can be found in the public docket, EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0038-0504. 

8

 As reported to EPA during EPA’s site visit to Pittsburgh International Airport. Amount represents percentage collection of 

“spent ADF”. A copy of the site visit report can be found in the public docket, EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0038-0509. 

9

 As reported to EPA in public comment by Salt Lake City International Airport. A copy of the comment can be found in the 

public docket, EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0038-1244.1. 
Memorandum 

July 12, 2011 

Page 4 of 4 

Constants 

Percent of Type I Available = 75 

Percent of Type IV Available = 10 

Calculations 

Total Amount Applied = Type I + Type IV 

Total Amount Available = (Type I × Percent of Type I Available) + (Type IV × Percent 

of Type IV Available) 

Amount Collected and Controlled = Total Amount Applied × Percent Collection and Control of 

Available 

Percent of Available = Amount Collected and Controlled ÷ Total Amount Available 

Example – 

Assume Type I Usage = 90 gallons 

Assume Type IV Usage = 10 gallons 

Total Amount Applied = 90 + 10 = 100 gallons 

Total Amount Available = (90 × 0.75) + (10 × 0.1) = 68.5 gallons 

Applied Amount Collected 

and Controlled = 50 gallons 

Percent of Available Collected = Amount Collected and Controlled ÷ Total Amount Available 

Percent of Available Collected = 73% 

Figure 1. Example Calculation for Available ADF Collection Percentage