Prague Airport has long strived to limit the negative impact of its operations on surface water and groundwater. It pays close attention to pre-treatment and wastewater treatment systems, chemical substance and aviation fuel storage facilities, the handling of harmful substances and the protection of streams during torrential rains. Chemical treatment of runways and taxiways as well as aircraft de-icing are activities closely connected with the water protection issue.Prague Airport supplies Prague/Ruzyně airport with drinking water, secures industrial wastewater and rainwater drainage by a compartmentalised drainage system connected to wastewater treatment plants in both the North and the South areas of the airport and then to the final recipients, i.e. the Kopaninský and Únětický streams.GroundwaterAll activities performed at Prague/Ruzyně airport are aimed at minimising the risk of the leakage of pollutants (primarily oil) into the ground and consecutively into the groundwater.Groundwater quality at Prague/Ruzyně airport premises and in surrounding areas is regularly monitored via a network of approximately 50 hydrogeological boreholes. Some of them were drilled in the 1960s and 1970, the rest during the recent hydrogeological exploratory work. The majority of boreholes are included in the groundwater quality monitoring system.A protective hydrogeological system (PHS) is located in and around the Central Aviation Fuel Warehouse in Kněževes to ensure continual monitoring of the groundwater for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons in selected hydrogeological boreholes. The PHS boreholes are placed and equipped to serve as remediation boreholes in case of emergency to capture and remove potential contamination while creating a protective hydrogeological depression.Old environmental burdens have long been addressed in the area of Hangar F – the contamination of soil and groundwater with oil and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The active phase of remediation has been completed, remediation limits are met and subsequent, permanent monitoring of the area takes place.Attention is paid to the quality as well as the amount of groundwater in terms of climate change (drought issue) and the increase of paved surfaces. The level of groundwater at selected boreholes is regularly measured. The level of groundwater at boreholes in PHS Kněževes is measured continuously. Where possible, the natural water cycle in nature is sought and rainwater is not diverted from the point of impact, but instead soaked into the ground.Surface WaterPrague/Ruzyně airport premises are drained into the Kopaninský and Únětický streams, both very low in water contents. Therefore, high demands are put on the quality of drained water.The key to protecting the quality of surface water is functional wastewater treatment plants in adequate capacity. Prague Airport operates two wastewater treatment plants - a contaminated rainwater treatment plant (CRTP) and a sewage water treatment plant (SWTP): one for the NORTH area and one for the SOUTH. The size of the retention tanks and the ways the Únětický and the Kopaninský streams are influenced by the water drained from Prague/Ruzyně airport are continuously discussed issues. Already in 2002, a study was drafted on the drainage ratios within the Prague/Ruzyně airport area, evaluating the entire airport area in a hydrotechnical manner according to the General Drainage Methodology of the capital city of Prague. This study has been regularly updated.The airport has mathematical models of rainwater and sewage water system to assess the requirements for rainwater and sewage water drainage for the upcoming changes or the development of the airport. These models are the fundamental basis for the development and modification of sewer and water treatment plant infrastructure.Due to modernisation and expansion, both water treatment plants received retention tanks with higher volumes and sufficient capacity was built for biological purification of contaminated rainwater (due to the de-icing of areas and aircraft). Both water treatment plants feature retention areas to accumulate the aircraft de-icing concentrates, allowing them to be drawn separately to the biological treatment lines.Polders (dry retention tanks), were built in the past to collect excessive water during torrential rains, to reduce the peak flow rates and to protect the villages downstream against negative impact of high flow rates. Kopaninský polder with the capacity of 68,250m3 covers the SOUTH area, while the Tuchoměřický polder with the capacity of 50,000m3 covers the NORTH area.The planned Kněževes polder behind the CRTOP + SWTP NORTH seen as the best way to protect downstream municipalities from torrential rainfall is also part of the prospective investments in rainwater management infrastructure.Prevention of Major AccidentsAs an operator of an international airport, Prague Airport handles hazardous substances (e.g. aviation kerosene, diesel fuel, automotive petrol) in large quantities as part of the airport’s operation.Under the Act No 224/2015 Sb. on prevention of major accidents, as amended, Prague Airport must produce a Safety Programme.The concept of producing a Safety Programme has two levels. In addition to its main function, i.e. the description, instructions and procedure for the implementation and management of major accidents prevention system, it also serves as a background document that is presented by the company management to administrative bodies, surrounding facilities and the public describing the extent of risk arising from the airport’s operations.Find more information hereThe Safety Programme also includes a commitment of the company in terms of prevention of major accidents – Policy of Letiště Praha, a. s.
