(Green Bay, Wis.) Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) has become the first airport in the world to receive the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard, a globally recognized certification for responsible water management and stewardship. GRB joins the ranks of other internationally known companies such as Tyson, Nestle, Coca-Cola, Apple, Ecolab, Google and Miller-Coors that have received this prestigious certification.
“People don’t often think of an airport having an impact on water quality, but it does in many ways,” explained Airport Director Marty Piette, A.A.E. “When you consider the volume of impervious surfaces that flow into natural waterways and watersheds, the number of aircraft and airfield de-icing chemicals that are used, and the amount of land we own that is farmed, we have a significant impact on water quality. That’s why, in recent years, we really focused on implementing best management practices designed to make us good stewards of our environment, including our waterways and watersheds.” Those practices include working with farmers who lease some of GRB’s vacant land, encouraging them to use techniques to improve the health of the soil and reduce runoff into the watersheds.
The Standard Certification received by GRB was two years in the making, requiring a multi-faceted approach, culminating in an audit of GRB’s processes, procedures and success metrics. The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), in partnership with the Milwaukee-based Global Water Center, provided guidance and technical support to GRB in the adoption and implementation of the standard. This unique partnership provides water users with guidance on incremental steps, up to and including certification, that organizations can take to advance water stewardship.
Piette thanked the groups for their assistance saying, “Their experience and expertise allowed us to focus on what really mattered. They saved us time and reduced system complexity as we worked toward certification.”
“I want to congratulate our airport’s leadership team for achieving this certification,” stated Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. “Water quality remains a top priority for Brown County and this continues our long-term goal of protecting our natural resources through good water stewardship.”
“We are extremely proud of the hard work and effort that went into achieving this certification,” added Piette. “We feel good about knowing we are among the best of the best when it comes to protecting our waterways and water quality.”
To learn more about GRB’s Commitment to the Environment, go to: www.flygrb.com/alliance-for-water
