£892,500 Fine Handed to East Midlands Airport for Breaching Environmental Permits

• Content
• News
• £892,500 Fine Handed to East Midlands Airport for Breaching Environmental Permits

13 August 2025

The Environment Agency has prosecuted East Midlands Airport after drainage water pollution from runway discharge was discovered, resulting in a fine of £892,500.

Between 14 January 2022 and 4 February 2022, the Environment Agency found that East Midlands Airport Ltd had significantly breached surface water drainage quality limits on three separate occasions. Surface water from airports can contain residues of de-icing fluid from aircraft and runways, which can impact watercourses, resulting in a deterioration in water quality.

The airport’s environmental permit allows a discharge of site drainage containing a maximum level of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of 15 mg/l. BOD is a measure of the amount of oxygen that needs to be dissolved in the water for microorganisms to be able to break down organic matter in it. It is used to indicate levels of organic pollution.

By breaching the BDO levels in the site’s drainage water, the Environment Agency says that East Midlands Airport has potentially caused water pollution.

Since 2006, there have been 13 similar breaches at East Midlands Airport, resulting in ten written warnings.

East Midlands Airport Ltd said that it had actively engaged with the Environment Agency to improve the situation.

Ian Firkins, Senior Environment Officer for the Environment Agency’s East Midlands Area, said: “We welcome this sentence which should act as a deterrent to other companies who flout environmental legislation.   

“The conditions of an environmental permit are designed to protect people and the environment.   Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment.”

Picture: a photograph showing the front of an aeroplane on a runway. Image Credit: Pixabay

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 13 August 2025

Share

Related Articles