Airports and CAWST – why we must travel

Twain's quote predates air travel by about 35 years and there's no way he could have known how the forthcoming aviation industry would transform the world. But, if anything, his statement has become even truer since 1869 when he penned it. And there are few people who know that better than the Global Advisors at Calgary's Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST).

Tasked with helping people develop solutions to water and sanitation problems that fit their own, unique community, no matter where it is in the world, CAWST advisors know the importance of travel.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, CAWST was forced to curtail air travel

Now just returning to in-person consultation after a two-year hiatus, global advisors aren't just helping bring water and sanitation access to billions who suffer without it. They are also connecting with people, some new and many they’ve had long term relationships with, in experiences that prove Twain's adage to be true.

Parviz Pulotov was the first CAWST Global Advisor to travel in 2022, and sent out a video message two days after landing at the Nairobi airport for an upcoming series of scheduled learning exchanges. "I'm currently in Rigomi, Village, Kisi County, Kenya after travelling in a van for about nine hours, he said. "And I don't remember a single moment of silence. Technically our learning exchange started in the bus. It was amazing."

Parviz' experience speaks to the power of travel, made possible by airlines and airports

When many of the world's rules for civil aviation were drafted in 1944, it was pointed out that "the future development of international civil aviation can greatly help and preserve friendship and understanding among the nations and peoples of the world." Air transport directly provides more than 11 million jobs worldwide, supports more than 87 million jobs and contributes approximately $3.5 billion to global GDP.

A 2020 report by the worldwide organization, Air Transport Action Group, points out how sustainable development for nations is empowered through air travel. Statistics for least-developed countries, where water and sanitation problems are more prevalent, show that air travel enables approximately $19.5 million in economic activity in these specific countries, to name just a few benefits.

Water and air travel: two seemingly disparate things that connect us

Few people know better the importance of air travel, the importance of water and how they connect than Harris Switzman. Harris works at the Calgary International Airport and, in 2019 alone, had approximately 18 million passengers in the vicinity of his office. As the airport's Manager of Environment and a professional hydrologist, he understands the important science of water management. The connections between it and air travel are always top-of-mind.

"Most airports and airlines in Canada have some sort of water management policy," says Harris. "The history of water stewardship goes back fairly far and we try to keep up with the science, keep up with best practices in the field."

YYC Calgary International Airport: a case study in air travel and water management

"In order to facilitate the operation of a major international airport, like YYC, we have the infrastructure of a small city," says Harris.

The YYC Calgary International Airport:

• covers a total land area of 20.82 km2.

• has 22 stormwater management ponds, two of which are dedicated to treatment and removal of glycol that cannot be collected for recycling.

• owns and operates approximately 250 active groundwater monitoring wells, used for monitoring water-quality and flow.

• has approximately 100 km of stormwater pipes used for drainage, 50 km of potable water distribution pipes and 35 km of sanitary pipes on airport property, excluding the infrastructure in their buildings.

"Water services are a critical component of what we do in partnership with The City of Calgary to support the airport," says Harris.

At Calgary’s airport and around the world, water management is an everyday practice

At the same time that CAWST global advisors are travelling the globe to develop or implement safe water policies and practices, The Calgary Airport Authority is busy with day-to-day water management under its own 22 year-old environment and sustainability policy.

“We put a lot of effort into ensuring that infrastructure is robust and safe, first and foremost, from a drinking-water quality standpoint," says Harris. "The same goes for stormwater, sanitation and sanitary flow and, of course, the watershed in which we operate." One essential mission, alluded to in the mention of stormwater ponds, is the containment of glycol. This protects the environment during the necessity of de-icing planes to maintain their high record of flight safety.

"In terms of water quality, we’re quite proud of the glycol recycling treatment system that was built and is operated by our airline partners," says Harris. "It was a pioneering approach in Canada to have airlines take on glycol treatment and recycling and impressive to see how efficiently it can recycle glycol, treat drainage water and result in very good water quality after treatment."

World Water Day: finding common ground (water)

The theme for World Water Day 2022, March 22, is Groundwater—making the invisible visible and both CAWST and The Calgary Airport Authority understand its importance.

Groundwater, found underground in aquifers feeds springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands, and seeps into our oceans. It is mainly recharged by rain and snowfall infiltrating the ground. For CAWST experts, groundwater is a major consideration in modern fecal sludge management practices, latrine construction, sustainable sanitation and overall waterborne bacteria reduction.

Groundwater quality, says Harris, is one of the reasons they have over 250 monitoring wells onsite. "We do monitor the groundwater closely here to protect aquifers and the water bodies connected to them," he says. "The airport here in Calgary is located within the Nose Creek Watershed, which is a very important waterway for the larger Bow River basin."

For Harris, protecting groundwater and the Nose Creek Watershed is a team effort

"In addition to the airlines and service providers at YYC, The University of Calgary is a big partner and another big partner is The City of Calgary. We're also a member of the Nose Creek Watershed Partnership, which also involves Calgary and all the municipalities on the Nose Creek." says Harris. "We've invested millions of dollars in partnership with airlines and others to recover as much glycol-impacted stormwater as possible, and to improve the performance of our drainage system which basically ensures that the stormwater that's flowing off-site at our airport is as healthy as possible for the Nose Creek Watershed."

The work continues every day

Before, during and long after World Water Day, CAWST and The Calgary Airport Authority will continue focusing on protecting and increasing water quality at home and around the world. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, CAWST global advisors departed from Calgary’s airport to work in numerous countries including Kenya, Cambodia, Liberia and Pakistan. Meanwhile, back at that very airport, Harris is busy with a number of efforts including a joint study with the University of Calgary to better understand how to improve stormwater management.

With a scientific background focused on water long before he moved into environmental management, it’s more than a job for Harris. It's also a passion, one he wants to share more widely. "It's really about having as positive an impact as we can on our local watershed and getting the message out to people that are coming to our airport that they can do the same through their actions," says Harris. "That's why we partner with CAWST, because we do have the same objective."

If you’re travelling through YYC Calgary International Airport: watch for CAWST images and videos highlighting World Water Day 2022!

Learn why World Water Day is important here: World Water Day | World Water Day 2022