Are You Part of the Problem? II

Sources of salt creating water pollution.

The following is republished from Penn State Extension- Jennifer Latzgo, Master Watershed Steward, Lehigh Valley

What You Can Do to Reduce Road Salt Pollution at Home

Here are some steps you can take:
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• Shovel frequently so snow does not accumulate and turn to ice.
• Salt works best on a thin layer of ice; always shovel any excess snow/ice before applying it.
• Using more salt does not make snow and ice melt faster; it's not necessary to feel the crunch underfoot for the salt to be effective: one 12-ounce coffee mug of salt is sufficient for a 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk paving squares. The grains of salt should be about 3 inches apart.
• Only apply salt in places where it is necessary.
• After the storm, sweep up any excess salt and use it for the next time it snows.
• You can also use alternatives to rock salt, such as sand, kitty litter, or birdseed.
• If bad weather is forecast, cover small areas, such as steps, with a tarp to prevent snow accumulation.
• Remember that it only takes one teaspoon of salt to pollute five gallons of water!
• (From other articles on the same issue-)
  • use a brine, like the state does now.  It can cut the amount needed by 70%.  (Environmental Hazards of Road Salt- PSU Extension, Justin Mansberger)
  • Use a ”friendly” deicer- Calcium Chloride (which, by the way, does not include cyanide.  Yea, cyanide.  Rock salt uses it for an anti-caking agent.), Magnesium Chloride, or Calcium Magnesium Acetate.  All are less harmful, but may be more expensive.   (Watershed-friendly Deicing- PSU Extension, Justin Mansberger)
• Did you know that salt is basically ineffective below 15 degrees?  (I did not.)  Calcium Chloride is effective down to -20 degrees, and Magnesium Chloride down to -10 degrees.  (Google search, AI Overview)  Right there is reason enough to switch to a better product. 

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Road Salt Pollution: Local and State-Wide Advocacy
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Where does the salt come from?
This graph from a study in New Hampshire shows where road salt pollution comes from. The largest source, about 50%, is from parking lots which are mainly serviced by private contractors who currently are not subject to any regulation. The next biggest sector is municipal roads, with 27%. State roads contribute 9%, salt piles 7%, and the rest is from smaller sources like private roads water softeners, food waste, and atmospheric deposition.
 
Best Management Practices
By implementing the best management practices listed below, it is possible for municipalities and private contractors to significantly reduce road salt usage and also save tens of thousands of dollars in materials and labor costs.
 
Training of Staff
All road maintenance staff should receive regular training about proper salt storage, application, environmental impacts, and maintenance of equipment.  Any training program should emphasize the importance of using as little material as is necessary to make roads safe.
 
Brining
Brine is a 23% solution of salt and water that can be mixed up locally. If sprayed on road surfaces ahead of a snow event, it prevents the snow from bonding to the pavement so that it is easier to plow the road clean later.  Road salt may still need to be applied, but the quantities will be much smaller. Switching to brining can reduce salt usage by 75%.
 
Pre-wetting salt
Pre-wetting road salt with brine enables the salt to stick to the road surface resulting in a 30% reduction in salt use. It also provides faster activation making it more effective at melting snow and ice.
 
Calibration of Spreaders
Performing regular calibration of spreaders on salt trucks can reduce salt usage by 50%.  Calibration should be done annually and any time a change is made to the material or equipment.
 
Live-Edge Plows
Live-edge plows have a flexible, segmented edge that conforms to the ground maximizing ground contact. They provide a cleaner scrape on uneven surfaces meaning that less salt is needed and the blades last longer.  They can allow the use of a wider plow which means that fewer passes are needed to clear roads.
 
Automated Spreader Controls
Automated spreader controls allow salt truck operators to program the rate of salt application according to road speed.  This ensures a more even spread and reduces the amount of bounce and scatter. 
 
Evaluation of Performance
After each winter maintenance event, staff should evaluate performance and analyze any data to determine effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments to future practices.
 
Maintenance of Equipment
Equipment needs to be rinsed off after usage to prevent corrosion. This needs to be done in a way to contain salt-contaminated wastewater which can then be used for pre-wetting brine.
 
The Bradford County Conservation District is committed to helping people manage resources wisely.  You can visit the Bradford County Conservation District at 200 Lake Rd in Wysox across from the Wysox Fire Hall. Contact us at (570) 485-3144 or visit our web page at www.bccdpa.com.