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Over time, if we don't manage our winter salt use, salt levels will increase in the drinking water and cause it to taste salty. When snow melts or when it rains, the salt placed on roads, parking lots and sidewalks to keep us safe washes into our waterways or travels underground.
Salt includes all products with chloride. Chloride accumulates in water and overtime causes water to taste salty. So whether you call it salt, de-icer, or ice melter or it is labelled 100 per cent natural or environmentally friendly, it most likely contains chloride and is salt.
Use salt wisely
No matter what you use to melt ice, read the product directions for application rate and working temperature and follow our snow and ice clearing tips.
Did you know?
salt (sodium and chloride) works best between 0 and -10 Celsius
in many cases, about one tablespoon of salt for a one-metre square area is all you need
de-icers with a finer grain will spread more evenly and work faster
Create traction to reduce the potential to slip
Sand, grit or non-clumping kitty litter are good choices for traction or when it's too cold for the salt to work. For sand, look for a product with little (less than five per cent) or no salt. However if you want to melt the ice, alternatives to salt that do not impact water are hard to find.
Reduce the risk of water freezing on driveways and sidewalks by managing where rainwater and snow melt drains. Fewer icy areas mean less salt and safer walking.
store unsalted snow where it won't melt on to paved areas
repair leaky downspouts and eaves troughs
direct downspouts away from walkways and driveways
clean eaves troughs of leaves and other debris
keep storm drains clear to remove snow melt
Business resources and programs
Multi-residential and commercial properties
Whether you clear the snow or hire someone else to do it, you are ultimately responsible to deal with it for the safety of others. Learn what you can do to remove icy areas before they occur and have the confidence to know what you are doing works.
Video 2 of 3: contract basics - setting your expectations
Video 3 of 3: preventing ice before it occurs
What the Region of Waterloo is doing
On the roads
The Region of Waterloo and the seven local municipalities work together to ensure road maintenance is efficient. Responsibility of winter road maintenance depends on the location of the road. Refer to the below links for snow removal information for each municipality.
There's no "one size fits all" response to winter storms. The winter maintenance equipment and materials used depends on weather conditions such as temperature, precipitation type, duration and intensity as well as road conditions and use. The Region of Waterloo Transportation Operations follows a comprehensive salt management plan. The following methods are some of the ways the Region is managing salt on roads.
road and weather sensors provide operations staff monitoring road conditions with data to determine the appropriate course of action
snow plow operators receive training on how weather events can affect road surfaces and best management practices for salt
depending on weather and road conditions, some of the materials used may include:
Direct Liquid Application involves spraying an anti-icing liquid on the road prior to a winter storm to prevent ice and frost from forming and sticking to the pavement. Anti-icing uses less salt and increases the effectiveness of plowing early in the storm.
pre-wetted salt is dry road salt with winter liquid applied before it is spread on the road. This helps the salt stick to the road surface and speeds up the effectiveness of the salt to melt the ice and snow on the pavement.
sand may be used on its own or in combination with salt to provide traction. Salt is less effective when temperatures fall below -12 Celsius.
snow plows are equipped with:
electronic spreader controls allow operator to set the rate of salt or sand for the conditions and ensure correct amounts are distributed
infrared thermometers provide continuous, accurate road and air temperature readings to assist the operator in the effective use of salt
Global Positioning System records the location of the snow plow and amount of salt applied. Operations staff can review the information to minimize the application of salt while achieving the required level of service.
enclosed storage areas keep salt contained from outside exposure protecting the natural environment
snow fences in strategic locations and establishing new hedgerows help reduce snow drifting on to roads, which generally leads to the need for less salt.
