Environmental issues

Water

Isavia is conscious of the importance of preserving the freshness and cleanliness of the groundwater in the surrounding area. Verkís has overall responsibility for groundwater quality measurements at Keflavík Airport. Samples were taken in 2017, 2018 and, most recently, in March and November 2019. In the past, the US Army ran facilities in this area, and it is common knowledge that their operations led to a certain amount of pollution. Groundwater samples from all boreholes display traces of chemical use in the airport zone. These findings suggest varying levels of pollution but not to any great extent. The results of measurements show fluctuations in chemical content, although, pollution appears to be decreasing, but it is difficult to say for certain, as further measurements will be needed to confirm this. Isavia will, therefore, continue to take measurements and monitor the quality of groundwater.

Isavia obtains water from utilities at each site and has not reused or recycled water from airport areas. In recent years, Isavia has also improved wastewater drainage at international airports, which is commonly connected to municipal drainage systems. In 2016, work was carried out on refurbishing wastewater drainage from the west part of Keflavík Airport, which drains into the sea. A two-stage pumping and filter station was built at Djúpavík south of Stafnes in Sandgerði and a new and longer outlet laid out to sea. In other respects, Isavia uses the sewage system of the municipalities in which each workplace is located, and the recipient is in all cases the sea, although the level of sewage cleaning may differ. Oil separators and settlement ponds receive most of the polluting materials that otherwise would end up in the sewage system.

Ecosystem

The Environment Agency Isavia airport zones are as diverse as regards ecosystems as they are numerous. The Reykjanes peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark and, as such, is of major significance as regards geological formations, some of which are unique. The best-known example thereto is probably how well one can see the plate boundaries of the Eurasian and North American plates. Although there are no geological formations at Keflavík Airport, it is certainly located in an extremely geologically important area.

For years, Isavia has been closely monitoring wildlife within airport areas and has analysed adjacent airport environments in terms of the presence of animals and birds. The appearance of wildlife varies greatly from airport to airport, as the respective areas differ in vegetation and food supply. An important part of airport operations involves taking measures to reduce the risk for air passengers and reduce the likelihood of collisions between wildlife and aircraft. This is done by applying a variety of deterrence methods, e.g. habitat management.

The employees of Isavia who are involved in wildlife management register the number and species of wildlife that can be seen at the airport. Considerable efforts are spent on mapping wildlife behaviour, particularly that of birds at and near the airports, and staff involved in this work have extensive experience in wildlife management. Náttúrustofa Suðvesturlands (The Southwest Iceland Nature Research Centre) and Þekkingarsetur Suðurnesja (Sudurnes Science and Learning Center) prepared a report on birdlife at Keflavík Airport. Educational lectures were subsequently held for the employees of Airport Services. Isavia also registers all possible collisions between birds and wild animals with aircraft at all its airports.

Last year, 11 confirmed instances of aircraft bird strike were registered at Keflavík Airport. At domestic airports, 12 aircraft bird strikes were registered.