Glycol: guidelines overview
The glycol guidelines have been in effect since January 20, 1994.
Objective
The guidelines recommend a concentration limit for the discharge of glycols to surface water resulting from aircraft de-icing and anti-icing activities.
Target audience
The guidelines apply to federal airports and the responsible federal department (Transport Canada).
Adopting the guidelines
If your facility is a federal airport and the guidelines apply to your facility, you are encouraged to:
- ensure that the discharge of glycols into surface water resulting from aircraft de-icing and anti-icing activities does not exceed a concentration of 100 mg/L
- determine the glycols concentration by taking the average of two samples collected at least 30 minutes apart and no more than 24 hours apart from just before the place of discharge into surface water, analyze the samples using the Method for the Analysis of Glycols in Water outlined in the guidelines
The federal department responsible for federal airports is encouraged to:
- monitor surface water glycol concentrations from federal airports
- prepare and submit an annual report on the monitoring results for each de-icing season
Read the guidelines
Reporting
An annual report should be submitted to Environment and Climate Change Canada before September 30 following the end of the de-icing season to which it applies.
Performance results to date
Performance measurement has not yet been conducted, however, we continue to review Transport Canada’s annual reports and are monitoring the use of glycol by airports.
Related information
- Guidelines for aircraft ground icing operations (TP 14052E, third edition, June 2018)
- Holdover time (HOT) guidelines for de-icing and anti-icing aircraft
Contact us
Products Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Email: ec.produits-products.ec@canada.ca
Phone: 1-888-391-3426