Reducing road salt use 'not something that can wait' as Ontario lakes see oxygen depletion, researcher says
Reducing road salt use 'not something that can wait' as Ontario lakes see oxygen depletion, researcher says
In Quebec they use sand, I don't see why that can't just be done here, it's not like it's a major change to the equipment or anything.
It can, they often use it
Sand doesn’t melt ice but it provides traction; too much and it’s slippery again, too little and it does nothing
If you have a busy road where it’s constantly being moved around as well as melting and freezing again then it’s not ideal
The dirt also has to be cleaned up
Blame corporations for applying obscene amounts of salts to prevent liability issues. The place I used to work at would put down so much everyday it was like walking on rocks. The entire sidewalk and parking lot.
The building I work in…. It’s literally like walking on a crunchy field of crystals.
Cement is starting to erode away.
Exactly.
When I lived in Calgary they used beet juice and it worked fine.
They already do this in the GTA on many roads
Edit: They’ve done it for awhile
How does that work?
From what i found its beet juice mixed with salt brine. Not as bad as normal ice melt apparently.
https://www.backyardboss.net/beet-juice-ice-melt/
Though I'm sure this isn't great for the environment either.
Curious, do they use Sodium Chloride or Magnesium Chloride or something else?
Sodium chloride is usual, because it's the cheapest option even if it isn't the most effective.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The move to reduce the amount of road salt during the winter months can't wait because Ontario's groundwater and lakes are showing "very rapid salinization," researchers at the University of Waterloo say.
"We actually use a lot of of salt, and salt is a very effective way to keep roads, sidewalks and parking lots free of ice, and that, of course, is important in terms of ensuring the safety of road users and pedestrians," said Philippe Van Cappellen, a professor and researcher at the school, as well as the Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate in Ecohydrology
Most recently, Van Cappellen was part of a research group that looked specifically at Lake Wilcox in Richmond Hill.
Van Cappellen said he wants local municipalities to talk about their road salt use, setting targets such as reducing its use by 25 per cent in the next five years.
David Pressey, the Region of Waterloo's manager of transportation operations, said the muniipality has been aware of concerns about the use of road salt and has actively worked to decrease its use.
The region will lay down a brine solution when it learns a storm is coming, helping reduce the amount of rock salt spread during plowing.
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