TO: Brian D’Amico, USEPA/OW/EAD 

FROM: Mary Willett, ERG 

DATE: June 16, 2011 

SUBJECT: Glycol Collection Vehicle and Plug and Pump 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 glycol collection vehicle (GCV) and plug and pump technologies 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 GCV Technology 

GCVs are specially designed vehicles that remove stormwater contaminated with deicing 

materials from airport deicing pads and gate locations by vacuuming liquid from pavement 

surfaces. GCVs help prevent ADF losses that occur through evaporation and/or direct discharge, 

and allow for collection of ADF-contaminated stormwater for treatment or disposal. Drain 

covers that bond to surfaces to quickly seal off drains are often used in conjunction with GCVs 

in aircraft deicing areas to allow the GCVs to collect high concentration spent deicing fluid. 

There are two basic design approaches in commercial GCVs: truck chassis or trailer mounted. 

The truck chassis designs are adaptations of the street sweeper concept, with a vacuum unit, 

vacuum/sweeper head, and storage tank all mounted on a single self-propelled vehicle. 

Typically, a separate engine powers the vacuum system. Trailer-mounted designs have the 

vacuum unit, collection head, and storage tank on a towed platform with power provided by 

either an engine mounted on the trailer chassis or a power take-off from the tow vehicle, 

typically a tractor. 

GCVs help prevent ADF-contaminated stormwater from reaching unpaved areas where 

infiltration could occur and from contaminating surrounding waterways. Once ADFcontaminated wastewater is vacuumed from airport surfaces, it is typically transported to an onsite storage facility (either temporary or permanent) where the airport can then treat and 

discharge, or ship the waste offsite. In addition, some airports with collection and conveyance 

systems or plug and pump, will have a designated area where the GCV can discharge into the 

collection system, allowing the existing infrastructure to convey the material to final storage. 

Description of Plug and Pump with GCV Technology 

Plug and pump collection systems are generally composed of devices and equipment that alter an 

airport’s existing storm drain system to contain and collect ADF-contaminated stormwater to 
Memorandum 

June 16, 2011 

Page 2 of 5 

prevent it from entering the storm drain system. These systems include, but are not limited to, 

temporary blocking devices at storm drain inlets, and/or installation of shutoff valves in the 

storm sewer system. Some airports use storm drain inserts or plugs to close the drains and allow 

the collection of ADF-contaminated stormwater within the existing airport stormwater drainage 

system. When aircraft are undergoing deicing/anti-icing, the inserts are installed to force 

contaminated stormwater to pool in drainage piping until the stormwater can be vacuumed or 

pumped out. This practice prevents manholes and stormwater piping from overflowing. Once 

deicing/anti-icing activity ends and the contaminated stormwater is removed, the storm drain 

inserts can be removed, or deactivated allowing uncontaminated stormwater to pass through the 

drain. 

Plug-and-pump collection systems are applicable to airports that deice at the gate and may be 

utilized to convert ramp areas (cargo, feeder, taxiway etc.) into deicing areas. Commonly, a plug 

and pump system is operated in conjunction with GCVs or a tanker truck with pumps which 

collect the deicing stormwater that builds up behind the drainage block during the deicing event. 

Additionally, GCVs may be used outside of the blocked area to collect ADF contaminated 

stormwater to enhance what can be collected through the plugging operation alone. 

GCV and Plug and Pump with GCV 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 GCVs and/or plug and pump technologies with 

GCVs. 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 anti-icing fluid, 

excluding applied ADF used for defrosting or deicing for safe taxiing. Figure 1 presents a 

detailed example of how EPA calculated available ADF. 

 

1

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

June 16, 2011 

Page 3 of 5 

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 

Percent of Applied Collected 

and Controlled = 30 

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

Available 

Percent of Available Collected = 44% 

Figure 1. Example Calculation for Available ADF Collection Percentage 

EPA’s Estimate of GCV Collection Efficiency 

EPA did not identify collection efficiency data representing GCV use alone; however, data from 

Gerald R. Ford International airport (in Grand Rapids, MI) and Theodore Francis Green State 

airport (in Providence, RI) represent ADF collection systems that are based predominantly on 

GCV use. 

 The ADF collection system at Gerald R. Ford International airport uses two tow-behind 

glycol collection units in conjunction with catch basin inserts to collect aircraft deicing 

contaminated stormwater around the terminal gates and apron. The airport reported 

collecting 29 percent of all applied glycol during the 2005/2006 deicing season. 

 Theodore Francis Green State airport uses 47 valved inserts in the catch basins of the 

primary and secondary deicing areas. The valves are closed prior to deicing events and 

the deicing stormwater is collected into mobile collection units and stored onsite for 

transportation to off-site recovery. Mass balance data on glycol usage and collection at 

Theodore Francis Green State airport between 2002 and 2006 indicate that its GCV based 

system annually collects between 26 and 48 percent of all applied glycol. 

Table 1 presents the efficiencies reported by these two airports and the estimated collection 

efficiency for available ADF which ranges from 38 to 71 percent. 
Memorandum 

June 16, 2011 

Page 4 of 5 

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Airport Cooperative Research Program Report No. 

14, Deicing Planning Guidelines and Practices for Stormwater Management Systems reports 

collection efficiencies of between 23 to 48 percent for GCVs. The systems represented in the 

TRB report used GCVs in combination with catch basin inserts, plug and pump technology, 

and/or apron systems. The ranges presented in the report represent higher collection efficiencies 

than those associated with a plug and pump system; however, all of these data points include 

technologies that would result in higher collection efficiencies than a GCV alone. Based on these 

data EPA has conservatively estimated that a GCV is able to achieve approximately half the 

collection of a plug and pump with a GCV, or 20 percent of the available ADF. 

EPA’s Estimate of Plug and Pump with GCV Collection Efficiency 

EPA reviewed performance data from General Mitchell International airport (in Milwaukee, WI) 

to evaluate the collection efficiency of plug and pump with GCV use. General Mitchell 

International airport uses a drain diversion system to separate the ADF-contaminated wastewater 

from other stormwater. When deicing operations are taking place, the drains in the deicing areas 

are closed. The airport uses the following drain diversion devices: 

 Sewer balloons, which are thick latex balloons covered in heavy canvas. The balloons are 

suspended underneath the grate of the storm drains during the winter season. During 

deicing events, maintenance trucks inflate the balloons to block the storm drains. The 

airport currently has eight sewer balloons. 

 Catch basin inserts, which are inserted into the storm drain to block ADF-contaminated 

wastewater from entering. The airport currently uses catch basin inserts in two locations. 

 Storm sewer shut off valves are used at four locations at the airport. 

 Two GCVs are used for ADF contaminated stormwater collection - one is a traditional 

truck-based GCV and the other is a GCV unit (a V-Quip Ramp Ranger) that is towed 

behind a tractor. 

General Mitchell International airport reported a collection range from 2002 to 2006 of between 

22.5 and 33 percent of applied ADF. Table 1 below presents the range of efficiencies reported by 

this airport and the estimated collection efficiency for available ADF, which ranged from 33 to 

48 percent. 

EPA’s data points are similar to those summarized in the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 

Airport Cooperative Research Program Report No. 14, Deicing Planning Guidelines and 

Practices for Stormwater Management Systems. That report presented collection efficiencies 

between 20 and 35 percent of applied ADF for plug and pump systems. At proposal, EPA 

estimated that plug and pump with GCV systems use would collect 40 percent of available ADF. 

When adjusted for rounding, the mean of the data above is approximately 40 percent. As such, 

EPA has determined that a well operated plug and pump system (in conjunction with GCVs) 

should be able to collect 40 percent of the available ADF. 
Memorandum 

June 16, 2011 

Page 5 of 5 

Table 1. GCV and Plug and Pump with GCV Collection Efficiencies and Available ADF 

Collection Calculations 

Airport 

ID 

Airport Name GCV Percent 

Collection 

Efficiency of 

Applied ADF 2

Applied ADF3 Available ADF 

(Type I Applied x 0.75) + 

(Type IV Applied x 0.10)

Percent 

Collection of 

Type I Type IV Available ADF 

1058 Gerald R. Ford 

International 

29 84,414 12,760 64,587 44 

1121 Theodore 

Francis Green 

State 

26 to 48 133,887 16,240 102,039 38 to 71 

Airport 

ID

Airport Name Plug and Pump 

w/ GCV Percent 

Collection 

Efficiency of 

Applied ADF 2,4

Applied ADF2 Available ADF 

(Type I Applied x 0.75) + 

(Type IV Applied x 0.10)

Percent 

Collection of 

Available ADF 

Type I Type IV 

1136 General 

Mitchell 

International 

22.5 to 33 137,650 15,294 104,767 33 to 48 

 

2

 Summary of Current State of the Practice on ADAF-Affected Stormwater Management, June 2007, CH2MHill 

(DCN AD00896) 

3

 See Table 9-3 of Technical Development Document for the Final Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for 

the Airport Deicing Category. (DCN AD01279)

4

August 8, 2006 Presentation by Greg Failey, MKE Study for AAAE August 2006 Deicing Conference. (DCN 

AD01265); the range presented represents the most recent years.