 Be Salt Smart this Winter
As the temperatures drop, be mindful of slippery roadways and walkways and the overuse of de-icing salt. When overused, de-icing salt can contaminate waterways and impact wildlife. Be salt smart this winter season and follow these tips to protect yourself and the environment:
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Shovel snow early and often and allow the sun to do much of the melting before applying salt. If you need to add de-icing salt for safety, apply it only after clearing away any snow and only where needed. Never place de-icing salt on snow.
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Use no more than a 12-ounce coffee mug worth of salt for about a 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares.
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Be patient and give the salt time to work The colder it is, the longer it will take for the salt to melt what snow or ice remains after shoveling.
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Securely store de-icing salt and traction materials in a cool, dry place. Remember to sweep up and reuse extra salt or traction materials.
The city’s snow removal crews are doing their part to reduce salt usage without compromising safety. Pre-treating roadways with brine when appropriate, monitoring air and pavement temperatures, and monitoring road conditions and forecasts to decide how to respond to a winter storm are just some of the techniques used to make roads safer for
travel without excessive salt application.
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