Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport implements a major environmentally focused de-icing fluid management system

November 30, 2020

GREATER MONCTON, NB – A glycol management project was finalized this week in collaboration with TransAqua and the City of Dieppe, as a part of YQM’s commitment to the environment and its efforts to mitigate and reduce the airport and its airport partners’ carbon footprint.

This $7.5 million construction project, which was funded in part through the federal government’s National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF), began in June, and the final environmental commissioning took place this week. The project consisted of the construction of new underground infrastructure, two new control buildings for control systems and two above ground storage tanks (which are visible to the left of the airport terminal building).

Here is a System Overview:

The storm water run-off from the existing de-icing pad is captured in the underground infrastructure and is sent to a new glycol (de-icing fluid) management system where it is analyzed for glycol content in real-time.
If the glycol concentration is below environmental guidelines, the run-off is released to our storm water system.
If the glycol concentration is above guidelines, the run-off is captured and sent to one of two above ground storage tanks based on glycol concentration, a 750,000-gallon low concentration tank or a 250,000-gallon high concentration tank.
Once captured in the tanks, the run-off will be released at a controlled rate to TransAqua via the City of Dieppe’s sanitary sewer system.
The system also has the ability to pump to a tanker truck.
The system is fully automated.

“YQM has been a small airport leader in its commitment to being a strong environmental steward. Proof of this being the $7.5 million investment in the capture and disposal of de-icing fluid in a coordinated fashion with the City of Dieppe and to complement TransAqua’s new biological secondary treatment facility. Not only will this new YQM infrastructure allow environmental compliance but more important, it is being done as a collaborative effort with our key community partners and we thank them for their engagement and support”, highlights Airport President and CEO Bernard LeBlanc.

In 2015, YQM made the decision to become an early North American participant in a global airport carbon footprint reduction initiative. In 2019, YQM was one of only five Canadian airports to reach the third of four tiers of this program in its aim to eventually achieve carbon neutrality as part of this Airports Council International Airport Carbon Accreditation Program.

Since its inception in this program, YQM has significantly reduced its carbon footprint. This was only possible through the focused efforts of its employees, its tenants and airline partners, and the commitment and support of its management team and board of directors.

Over the past five years a variety of capital projects have led to a significant reduction of water and energy consumption at YQM. These have included the installation of faucet aerators, as well as urinal and toilet upgrades in most areas, that have significantly reduced the water flow and usage. From the electrical perspective, LED energy efficient lighting has been installed in the terminal building and in several parking lots, leading to significant electrical energy consumption reductions. Other initiatives have included modifications to the terminal building’s heating and cooling schedules, as well as to its main chiller system, and also a reduction of heating set points in certain zones during low occupancy periods. Although 2020 is a very challenging year financially, the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport is maintaining its environment commitment through a continued focus on these efforts with its employees and airport partners. A quarterly “environmentally focused” newsletter is one key means to not only keep educating airport employees and partners, but also to communicate the progress being made, as well as opportunities to keep reducing its carbon footprint and energy and water usage with the long-term aim of reaching carbon neutrality.

Energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction efforts are not only beneficial to the environment but have also greatly assisted YQM in reducing its operating costs, which has been a significant benefit in ensuring long term financial sustainability.

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About Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM)

YQM is a progressive airport and the leading airport in the central Maritimes. 24/7/365 – everyone associated with the airport strives to provide
superior air service to passengers travelling all over the world and to the global cargo industry -safe, convenient, efficient, bilingual and
businesslike.

YQM also strives to maximize its contribution to local and regional economic and community development – it drives over $665 million of
economic activity annually, making it one of the top private-sector economic contributors to New Brunswick’s economy.
Your economy. Your airport.

For more information:
Julie Pondant, Corporate Communications Specialist
506-962-2830
jpondant@cyqm.ca