Environment

Shannon Airport recognises its responsibility to minimise the impact of the airport’s operations on the local environment by means of a programme of continuous improvement.

The Safety & Environmental Department manages the environmental programme at Shannon Airport and its role is dedicated to effective management and improvement in many areas including:

• Air Quality monitoring
• Surface Water quality monitoring
• Drinking water quality monitoring
• Noise management
• Effective waste management & recycling initiatives
• Energy consumption
• Airport landscape and ecology
• Community relations
• Air Quality monitoring

The quality of air at the airport is monitored at 6 monthly intervals in three strategic locations over continuous 10-day periods. The monitoring programme collects a range of data for a number of prescribed parameters, which are then compiled in a detailed report for review by the Safety & Environmental Department.

Surface Water Quality Monitoring

This monitoring programme involves the monitoring of the quality of airport surface water at eleven designated locations around the airport facility including airside and landside.

Samples are collected on a monthly basis and are submitted to an accredited independent laboratory. Surface water is analysed for the following parameters:

• pH.
• Biochemical Oxygen demand.
• Chemical Oxygen demand.
• Total Suspended solids.
• Total nitrogen.
• Dissolved Phosphorus.
• Total hydrocarbons.

Accredited laboratories test all water samples and results and reports are submitted to the Safety & Environmental Dept. for review.

Drinking water Quality Monitoring

This monitoring programme includes the monitoring of the quality of the raw water supply to the airport treatment plant from Rosroe Lough and the quality of the potable drinking water to the airport from the airport treatment plant at Firgrove.

The quality of the raw water is analysed monthly while the drinking water supply to the airport is analysed every second month.

Both the raw water and treated water are analysed for a number of parameters including:

 pH, bacteria, chemicals and heavy metals.

Accredited laboratories test all water samples and results are submitted to the Safety & Environmental Dept. for review and comment.

Noise Management

 Shannon Airport is committed to the minimisation of noise disturbance to the local community in the vicinity of the airport.

As the Airport Authority we must ensures that at all times, aircraft operators operate aircraft in a manner calculated to cause the least disturbance practicable in areas surrounding Shannon Airport.

Noise level monitoring on the apron/ramp area is undertaken periodically as part of this management strategy.

Effective Waste Management & Recycling Initiatives

Shannon Airport’s waste management policy involves effective management of a number of waste streams including in-flight catering waste, recyclables and hazardous waste.

Some of the more notable recycling initiatives include the recycling of office paper from many office areas in the terminal buildings, the recycling of inkjet/laser cartridges and the recycling of primary batteries.

Energy

The running and operation of Shannon Airport requires a large energy input. Since the use of energy is an important environmental issue, Shannon Airport strives to keep energy consumption as low as possible through the use of energy saving equipment and technology and through the education and training of staff working at the airport.

Airport Landscape & Ecology

Shannon Airport believes in providing as attractive an airport landscape as possible, which is also consistent with airport security and operational requirements. This commitment to landscape enhancement together with caring for the local ecology, will continue during all future development of the airport.

Community Relations

Shannon Airport continues to listen to local concerns and strives to be responsive to community concerns in relation to environmental issues.