There is no doubt that the aviation industry has a huge impact not only on the economy but on nature as well. To celebrate World Water Day, celebrated on the 22nd of March, Skycop looked into how the aviation industry reduces its impact on our planet by reducing water consumption.
Aviation’s Impact on Water: Why It Matters
In 2017, airplane manufacturer Airbus reported that the company’s total water consumption was 4,011,897 m3 yearly. They also introduced steps to reduce that number. Instead of using drinking water for industrial and sanitary needs, Airbus in Hamburg now treats river water, resulting in significant savings. In Spain, waterless urinals will be installed at all sites and air-cooled pumps are replacing water-cooled versions. Improved irrigation and revamped landscaping are helping conserve water usage in Texas, USA.
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Eco-Friendly Cleaning Methods Take Flight
Airlines also try to pollute less water. For example, KLM was among the first airlines when it switched to the EcoShine method of cleaning an aircraft’s exterior in 2012. This semi-dry washing technique requires 80 times less water than the previous system (150 liters instead of 12,000 liters to clean a Boeing 777) and saves up to 8 000 000 liters of water each year. Emirates saved 11 000 000 liters of water a year after adopting this method in April 2016.
How Weight and Water Intersect in Aviation Efficiency
Turning the focus on minimizing water consumption might also be financially beneficial to the airlines, as fuel consumption is directly tied to the weight of the aircraft and its load. In 2018, Finnair adjusted the standard water cargo volume, gaining annual fuel savings of 100 tones.
Airports Join the Effort to Conserve Water
Environment and Ecology Research by Merve Özlem Vurmaz and Hülya Boyacioglu defined airports as places of high water consumption, mostly for processes that don’t need potable water like cooling systems, fire control, cleaning and washing of vehicles, runways, and aircraft. Research focusing on water consumption of an airport located in Turkey showed that annual water consumption was about 436000 m3 /year. Irrigation, fire control system, cooling towers, and terminal WC use accounted for the lion’s share, with 23%, 7%, 26%, and 20 % take respectively. Water used for WC and food consumption fluctuated between 6.5–10 L per passenger in the airport, highlighting how everyday travel habits and preparation – including what you wear and carry – can impact your overall airport experience, as explained in our guide on airport attire matters. Consider this: around 4.3 billion passengers flew on scheduled flights in 2018.
Water-Saving Innovations at the Airport Level
Airports recognize their impact and are conserving water in a variety of ways: by using reclaimed water for irrigation, street sweeping, construction dust control, and car washing; by using advanced water purification systems; by installing water-saving low-flow fixtures in restrooms; by finding options for stormwater management, etc.
Was Your Flight Disrupted?
Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
There is no way to entirely eliminate aviation’s impact on nature, but reducing it as much as possible is the way to go. But if any airline goes greedy over the green and refuses to pay compensation for your disrupted flight, get in touch with Skycop to help you in your fight for what’s rightfully yours. You can use Skycop’s form to get compensation.
Cover photo by Andrey Filippov. Distributed under CC BY 2.0
