Clean water –thanks to innovative solutions

To ensure safe flight operations even in the winter months, aircraft and operational areas must be cleared and de-iced. To this end, de-icing agents are used (glycol for aircraft, formate for operational areas). Zurich Airport uses its own, specially-developed, innovative and near-natural system for treating the wastewater. Wastewater containing de-icing agents from aprons and taxiways is collected and distributed onto suitable green areas using sprinklers. Microorganisms in the soil break down the de-icing agent residue in the wastewater, thus purifying the wastewater to below the limits required for release into the Glatt. The facility has been in use since 2001.

Since 1999, the airport has had a General Drainage Plan (GEP) which has been approved by the authorities and which serves as a basis for all future planning relevant to water protection. The GEP stipulates how contaminated wastewater needs to be handled and how to take care of the surface water and groundwater.

The diverse operations and activities at the airport result in many different types of wastewater. Special wastewater, e.g. from aircraft toilets or maintenance areas, are pre-cleaned and then released to the wastewater treatment plant, like household wastewater. The Kloten-Opfikon wastewater treatment plant is operated jointly by Flughafen Zürich AG and the towns of Opfikon and Kloten. The contents of grease traps are sent to a biogas plant.

Flughafen Zürich AG gets its drinking water from the communal supply network of the town of Kloten. As some of the buildings at the airport are not or only insufficiently sealed, they also transport groundwater. Some of this is used as process water. Finally, rainwater is collected on the roofs of Dock E and the high-rises of the Circle. This is used for toilet flushing.