However, because the airport is at the top of the island the accident highlighted the vulnerability of the water supply to airport effluence and other water pollutants.
Under these vast layers of ice, tunnel valleys were formed, cutting through the limestone layer with tremendous force, to release ice meltwater and glacier effluence.
Aerodrome works have subsequently involved environmental engineering projects to better contain and divert contaminated effluence away from the water supply.
The environmental body is yet to ascertain the composition of the effluence; however, state and federal authorities have reportedly taken measures to prevent toxic material entering the ground water.
It is evident from this work as well as the work of others (10,13-15,29) that antibiotic resistant coliforms are entering the aquatic environment via treated municipal wastewater effluence.