Delivering environmental remediation for a major international airport

Biffa was engaged by a major international airport to manage the restoration of its lagoon storage system over a 10-week project. The airport relies on seven onsite treatment lagoons, with a capacity of over 1 million litres of water, to handle wastewater. Effective operation of these lagoons requires them to be free of silt and solids. If left unmanaged, the build-up of silt and solids reduces the lagoons' capacity, increasing the risk of overflow during heavy rainfall and posing a threat to the surrounding environment and operations.

Biffa’s Solution: 

Biffa’s solution required meticulous planning due to the complexity of environmental regulations, potential flood risk and ongoing airport operations. The project was managed by Biffa’s Industrial Cleaning team. Utilising industrial vacuumation machinery, liquid tankers, high-performance jetting and suction pumps, the team removed all obstructions and safely disposed of the material. 

Each lagoon was remediated in phases, allowing the airport to manage its water runoff effectively while minimising flood risks. The team faced a set of unique challenges, including: 

- Working within the 8-meter-deep sump 
- Separating water and solids before transportation to meet the unique requirements of disposal sites 
- Storing solid matter, sludge, and debris in holding tanks to allow for full loads to be transported 
- Avoiding operational disruption 

With years of experience dealing with bespoke environmental remediation projects, Biffa provided a comprehensive specification for the work, which included: 

- Bespoke planning and risk assessments 
- Specialist equipment to separate solid materials from the liquid 
- Holding tanks to bulk up waste loads, minimising the project’s carbon footprint 
- Detailed traffic management protocols to facilitate the smooth movement of equipment and personnel between lagoons with tight access points 

In summary, Biffa's solution not only addressed the immediate issues with the lagoons but also provided long-term operational, environmental, and compliance benefits to the company.