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ENVIRONMENTAL 
October 2026      AirportImprovement.com
FAR
alternate route to the ramp,” Dobberstein 
relates. “We orchestrated everything as best 
we could, working with the airlines and the 
control tower to make sure it was the most 
efficient operation possible.”
Seidel notes that Contech installs 
hundreds of underground detention systems 
throughout the Midwest annually, including 
storage for new or spent deicing fluid at 
dozens of airports throughout the years. 
Storage and Treatment
During the third phase of the project, crews 
buried two steel-reinforced polyethylene 
(DuroMaxx® SRPE) tanks northwest of the 
terminal. These black barrel-like tanks supplied 
by Contech, each 120 inches in diameter, are 
equipped with Supervisory Control and Data 
Acquisition systems that collect data in real 
time. The information is monitored remotely, 
allowing airport staff to discharge spent runoff 
at controlled discharge rates to comply with 
the city’s limits for deicing runoff.
“Airport managers have an extremely 
difficult job. They want systems that, to the 
extent that is practical, are self-operating,” 
says Bryan Wagoner, senior environmental 
planner at Mead & Hunt. “It’s better that this 
runs smoothly on its own behind the scenes 
so airport staff can concentrate on airfield 
and terminal issues.
“The lagoon option with a treatment plant 
is unique,” he adds. “There is no single silver 
bullet series of options that allow SADR 
[spent aircraft deicing fluid runoff] to be 
managed. It’s always a mixed bag, using 
different tools from different toolboxes.”
At FAR, an underground system 
that provides storage and treatment 
before controlled release to the city’s 
treatment lagoons prevailed as the 
preferred option. 
Shaping  
Tomorrow’s 
Airports.
meadhunt.com/AVIATION
During the first two phases, crews installed more than 2,000 linear feet 
of Contech aluminized corrugated metal pipe. 

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