How should airport drainage handle fuel spills?

• A. Ramp slope away from structures; fuel should pass through a fuel/water separator and not enter storm water unless authorized.
• B. Directly drain to storm sewer; fuel allowed.
• C. Do nothing; spills are cleaned later.
• D. Use sand only.

Answer: (A)

When drainage is designed to protect water quality, the runoff from a fuel spill is treated and kept from entering storm systems or waterways. The ramp should slope away from structures so any spilled fuel naturally flows away from critical areas and toward a controlled collection point. Fuel runoff should pass through a fuel/water separator to remove hydrocarbons before it can reach storm drains, and discharge to storm water should only occur if explicitly authorized and managed under proper permits. This approach minimizes environmental harm, meets regulatory expectations, and provides a measurable path to containment and treatment.

Directly draining to the storm sewer would let fuel reach the watershed, which is unsafe and typically not allowed. Doing nothing leaves the spill unaddressed and risks spreading contamination. Relying on sand alone may absorb some liquid, but it doesn’t reliably remove dissolved hydrocarbons or handle flow as fuel continues to be released, so it’s not sufficient for proper spill management.