Green Stormwater Infrastructure Strategies for Airports: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Airports urgently need resilient and affordable solutions to address stormwater quantity and quality issues and to promote the triple bottom line of sustainability. Recent years have seen increasing use of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) strategies at airports. GSI solutions (e.g., bioretention systems, rain gardens, vegetated filter strips, permeable asphalt or concrete pavement, drainage wells, and amended topsoil) are designed to supplement or replace conventional grey infrastructure (e.g., impermeable pavements and curbs, inlets and pipes) that inhibit water filtration or infiltration and related natural treatment and flow attenuation processes. This work aims to provide a brief overview of the GSI strategies for airports, followed by a discussion of challenges and opportunities in balancing airport priorities in environmental, economic, and social values and operational constraints. The airport challenges in implementing GSI strategies mainly include those related to wildlife attraction, climate change, anti-icing/deicing compounds, and land use limitations. This work presents a synthesis of information that can be valuable in assisting airport decision-makers and professionals responsible for managing the stormwater programs and for the planning and project development of conventional grey infrastructure and new green infrastructure related to stormwater management.