What is the most prolific source of water pollution at the airport?

Stormwater runoff is considered the most prolific source of water pollution at airports for several reasons. Airports cover vast areas of land that include runways, taxiways, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces. When it rains, water flows over these surfaces and collects various pollutants, such as oil, fuel residues, de-icing chemicals, and sediment, before draining into nearby waterways.

The scale and volume of stormwater runoff at airports can be significant, as these facilities often have extensive paved areas that do not allow for natural water absorption. Furthermore, during rain events, the concentration of pollutants can increase, exacerbated by the accumulation of contaminants between storms. This runoff can lead to detrimental effects on local water quality, ecosystems, and aquatic life.

While oil spills, fuel leaks, and wastewater discharge are also important sources of pollution, they tend to be more localized incidents or specific events that can be managed or mitigated more easily than the continuous and widespread impact of stormwater runoff. Thus, its consistent contribution to pollutant loading in water bodies makes stormwater runoff the most significant source of pollution in the airport environment.