Our planet earth has always had the same amount of water. The water we use today was also there for the dinosaurs to drink. And through the water cycle, water can be found everywhere. It is always moving and changing states as a liquid, solid, or gas.

We can find water in streams, rivers, and lakes. It’s in the air and underground. It is the glaciers, rain, and snow. And it’s in our food, plants, and bodies.

Earth has a lot of water – about 71 per cent of our planet is covered in water. But how much of it is drinkable fresh water? First look at the oceans – that’s a lot of water. In fact, 97 per cent of all water is salt water – water we can’t drink without desalinating or removing the salt. That leaves three per cent remaining as fresh water. Some of the fresh water is hidden underground as groundwater. Water is always moving, even if it takes the slow route, deep underground through rocks and sand that make up the layers in an aquifer where we find groundwater.

Locally, Waterloo Region is part of the Grand River watershed. But what is a watershed? Is it a shed made out of water? Nope. A watershed is an area of land that drains into the same body of water. Think of it like a tree branch. In Waterloo Region, groundwater seeps up into small waterways such as Schneider’s Creek, Laurel Creek and Mill Creek that drain into the larger Grand River. The Grand River and many other watersheds drain into Lake Erie and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean.

Have you ever watched the National Film Board movie “Paddle to the Sea”? The movie reminds me of a watershed. It is about a child who makes a wood carving of a man in a canoe and sets it on a frozen stream waiting for the spring thaw. The movie follows the canoe as it travels from the stream to larger waterways and finally to the ocean.

The water cycle and the fact we all live in a watershed are reminders we all share the same water, and we all live downstream from someone else.

And why we all have a role to play protecting this important resource - water.

Entering my home might not be obvious. For you, a knock on a door or a turn of a key, and you’re in. For me it’s a bit trickier. It starts with me as a raindrop. After parachuting down from the clouds, I soak into the ground to recharge my home, the aquifer. Recharge, also called infiltration, is when water is added back into the aquifer. This can happen through precipitation such as rain or when snow melts or when water seeps into the aquifer from surface water such as a pond or stream.

So what is an aquifer? First, to find an aquifer you have to look down. Believe it or not, where you are standing right now, there could be an aquifer underneath you. It might take some work digging down to get to it, but it’s there.

When you dig into the ground, what do you find? Dirt, sand, rocks; materials you can find in an aquifer. What materials are in the aquifer depend on the geology of the land and how it was formed a long, long time ago. Glaciers played an important role carving out the land. The materials left behind when the glaciers retreated or melted helped form the aquifers, including the Waterloo Moraine where recharge for some of the aquifers in Waterloo Region begins.

The Waterloo Moraine consists of thick deposits of sand and gravel, separated by clay layers, where large quantities of recharge help supply the water to the Region’s water supply wells. But make no mistake, recharge happens everywhere beneath your feet.

Aquifers in much of Waterloo Region consist of sand and gravel with layers of clay. The exception is most of Cambridge where the aquifers are in bedrock.

Getting back to me parachuting down from the clouds and soaking into the ground…once I have soaked into the ground, I look for spaces between the different materials – sand, gravel or bedrock. Those spaces might look tiny to you but for me, they’re plenty big.

Try this - place some pebbles or marbles in a glass. They represent the sand or gravel in an aquifer. Look closely at the pebbles or marbles. Do you see spaces? Now pour water into the glass. This represents the recharging or adding water back into the aquifer. Where does the water go? Does it sit on top of the pebbles or marbles, or does it fill up the spaces? That’s what an aquifer is, an area underground where the spaces between the sand grains, rock or gravel are filled with groundwater.

And once I’m there, I don’t sit still. Water doesn’t like to stay in one place for too long. So, while I’m underground, I’m slowly moving a few metres every year through the spaces between the sand, rock or gravel. Eventually I’ll make my way into a stream and evaporate as part of the water cycle before parachuting down from the clouds to recharge an aquifer once again.

Hopefully you now have a better idea of where I live. And if you are looking for something to do that involves ice cream, check out this edible aquifers recipe. It’s a fun and tasty way to learn more about my home.

I spend a lot of time deep underground moving through the spaces of sand grains, rocks and gravel in what I like to call an aquifer. But have you ever asked yourself “if groundwater is deep underground, how the heck do we get it to where I am?” Well, we use…wells.

Perhaps a wishing well comes to mind. As a child maybe you tossed a coin over your shoulder and made a wish. Bring back memories? What did you wish for? Did your wishes come true?

Today’s wells don’t typically look like wishing wells. And even though the Region of Waterloo has hundreds scattered throughout Waterloo Region, you probably have never noticed them in your travels.

So what is a well? A well is a metal pipe put into the ground to extract groundwater. Think of it like a big drinking straw.

First, a deep hole is drilled into the ground. How deep depends on how far down I’m hiding. Region of Waterloo municipal wells usually start around 30 metres (100 feet) deep and can reach depths of over 100 metres (330 feet). Once the hole is drilled, a metal pipe is placed inside. At the bottom of the pipe are slits covered with a screen allowing me to enter the pipe.

The Region of Waterloo uses two types of wells – supply wells and monitoring wells.

Supply wells move the groundwater from underground to above ground for you to use. A pump pushes me up the well. It’s probably like you spending the day on the rides at the fall fair. Once I get to the top of the well, I go through a treatment process and tested to make sure I am good to go for you to drink. After that I hitch a ride through underground pipes to your home.

The supply well is located inside or beside a pump house. Operation of the well is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from a central location. From this location the water operator can control how much of me is pumped through the well. The Region of Waterloo manages 100+ supply wells throughout Waterloo Region.

The other type of well is a monitoring well. Monitoring wells collect information on the groundwater aquifer. This includes collecting samples to test for water quality and to measure groundwater levels in the aquifer. We place monitoring wells near supply wells or along the path groundwater takes underground to reach the supply well. Monitoring wells can be drilled at different depths to provide information on the aquifer from different layers or locations.

Imagine a day without me – groundwater. Not a day goes by you don’t use me. You drink me, clean and wash with me, and so much more. Keeping me clean and making sure there is always enough of me to go around is an important job. One that everyone can help with.

Here are my top nine ways to get started.

1- Take shorter showers. Cutting back on your shower time by even a few minutes can mean less water down the drain and more money you can save on your next water utility bill.

2 - Check your toilet for leaks. Paying for water you aren’t using isn’t fun. Did you know a leaky toilet can silently lose 300 litres or more a day? That’s like filling up three bathtubs! An easy way to detect a leak is to place a few drops of food colouring in the tank, wait 20 to 30 minutes and then check the water in the bowl. If the water has changed colour you have a leak. Check out this video for ideas of where else you can check for leaks in your home.

3 - Limit the use of salt and ice melter. Salt is a major water quality concern. The salt we spread on the ground does not go away. Some of this salt soaks into the ground to mix with groundwater, the water we drink. Once the salt is in the water, there is no easy fix to remove it. Check out these snow and ice clearing tips.

4 - Support water education. The Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival provides fun, hands-on activities to 5,000 grade 2 to 5 students each May. You can help the Festival continue educating future water protectors by making a financial donation and/or volunteering during the event.

5 - Use a rain barrel. Save on your water utility bill by watering your plants with rain courtesy of Mother Nature. Choose plants native to our climate that thrive with little water and create a pollinator-friendly space.

6 - Set your water softener to the correct water hardness. Save on salt costs and help reduce the amount of salt going into the Grand River. Water hardness differs throughout Waterloo Region. Use the Water Softener Facts website water hardness maps to find the water hardness for your area.

7 - Return unused medication to your local pharmacy. Help keep medication out of waterways. Never flush it down the toilet or pour down the sink.

8 - Only rain down the storm drain. Storm drains connect directly to the local waterway. It is important only rain and melted snow enter the storm drains to keep streams and creeks clean.

9 - Report a spill immediately if you witness or suspect a spill has occurred or is about to occur. A spill is the release of a substance that is harmful to the environment, such as oil, fuel, chemicals or pesticides into a sewer or the environment. Quick actions can reduce the clean-up time and protect the local environment.

Maps are great tools. They can help you find where you are, provide information on nearby landmarks and help guide you to your final destination. Remember the good ole days of paper maps? Now-a-days I’m guessing many of you use a GPS or an APP on your phone to help you get around.

For me – groundwater, I don’t really need a map. Partly because it would be really hard to read down here in the aquifer but mostly because I honestly don’t care where I am or where I end up. For me, there are no borders or boundaries thanks in part to the water cycle.

However, my friends at the Region of Waterloo seem to think otherwise. They like to track my every movement – where I soak into the ground, how long I’m underground and the different paths I take to reach the 100+ municipal supply wells in Waterloo Region.

Each municipal supply well is in a Wellhead Protection Area made up of four zones: 100-metres, 2 years, 5 years and 25 years. The 100-metre zone is the closest to the supply well, with the remaining zones marking the time it takes for me to reach the well.

Wellhead Protection Areas surround each municipal supply well. Image credit: Conservation Ontario.

Understanding the geology of the land

With the help of computer modeling, hydrogeologists can track my movement and use this information to create Wellhead Protection Area maps.

To understand how I move underground you first need to know what materials I’m moving through. Aquifers, where you can find me, are made of different layers of materials such as sand, gravel, clay and bedrock. No two aquifers are the same. The layers in one aquifer can be very different from another. And in fact, the types of materials and how they are layered can change in a single aquifer.

As I slowly move through the spaces between these materials I travel at different rates of speed. Sand is like a sponge, slowing me down as well as acting as a natural filter. Rocks and gravel with larger spaces or cracks provide me with more room so I can travel at a quicker pace compared to sand. Clay is like a big ole stop sign for me. Its hard-packed and dense material acts as a barrier forcing me to change my route.

Why Wellhead Protection Area maps are important

One reason Wellhead Protection Areas are important is they help bring attention to me. When you look around it’s easy to see the lakes and streams. But I hide underground, so I don’t always get the attention I deserve. You know the saying – out of sight – out of mind.

The maps help make groundwater real and hopefully more valued. They provide important information on my whereabouts and the journey I take to each municipal supply well.

And finally, the Wellhead Protection Area maps are an important groundwater protection tool supporting actions using the Source Water Protection Plan to reduce risks from pollution to groundwater.

Let’s talk salt. We spread it on the roads, parking lots, sidewalks, driveways, stairs – pretty much anywhere outside you walk, bike, or drive in the winter. Don’t get me wrong, salt has its benefits. It’s easy to find, relatively cheap, and for the most part does a good job melting ice so it’s safer to get around.

But if you are me – groundwater – salt isn’t so great. Unfortunately, what is put on the ground can end up where I am. Overtime that same salt and ice melter will make me – your drinking water – taste salty.

Here are my top six mistruths about salt that I think contribute to it being a water quality concern for me and my cousins in lakes and streams.

Salt doesn’t harm the environment

FACT: Salt is a toxic substance and is a pollutant to water quality. Salt is a chemical but because it is found naturally and it’s used in your food, salt isn’t treated as such. Like many things it is about moderation and only using the right amount when needed.

You can use an environmentally friendly ice melter

FACT: Most ice melter and de-icing products including ones labelled “100 per cent natural”, and “pet, plant and environmentally friendly” use salt as their main ingredient. Even when you think you are using something environmentally friendly, it probably isn’t water friendly. Take a close look at the product labelling. If it melts ice, it most likely lists chloride (Cl) as one of its ingredients and is damaging to water.

Salt works in all temperatures. 

FACT: Salt (sodium chloride) works best between 0 and -10 Celsius. When it’s colder, it is best to switch to sand for traction or use an ice melter that works at colder temperatures. That ice melter is still damaging to water so make sure to follow product instructions and only use on icy areas only after you have cleared the snow.

Salt goes away 

FACT: Salt doesn’t leave the environment. It’s actually the chloride in salt that’s the problem. Chloride is highly soluble, meaning it gets inside me and won’t get out. Have you ever had a house guest who overstays their welcome? For me, that’s chloride.

Water and wastewater treatment removes salt

FACT: Current water and wastewater treatment does not remove chloride in salt and ice melter products from water. Removing salt requires desalination, which is extremely expensive and energy intensive, and greatly increases greenhouse gases.

Salt is regulated and you must take training to use it

FACT: Anyone can spread salt. If the person spreading the salt hasn’t been educated on proper techniques and how harmful salt is to water, they often spread way too much or assume salt is the best tool when conditions say otherwise.

Let’s talk about the cost of using salt (and ice melter and de-icing products). 

The obvious one is the cost of purchasing it. For that reason alone, it makes sense to spread only what you need and only when you need it. And did you know you can sweep up leftover salt to save for another time. Not that money is a big deal for me, but if we’re talking money, it’s hard to put an exact dollar amount on the environmental cost of using salt. The hidden cost of salt on infrastructure and the environment can range from $200 to $470 per ton of salt applied.

A National Post article “The awesome price we pay” outlines some of the costs of using salt. The author writes “Dalhousie University estimated that it costs it an extra $15,000 in cleaning and maintenance each year just to repair all the damage salt does to floors and baseboards”.

What are the hidden costs of salt?

• Your drinking water. The salt and other de-icing products spread on the ground can eventually mix with me. Over time this will make me – groundwater – taste salty.
• Sore paws. Have you ever watched a dog trying to walk through salt? Salt trapped in their paws can irritate and crack their skin.
• Damage to buildings and concrete surfaces. Salt is toxic and will eat away at outside structures (brick/concrete/sidewalks), doorways and flooring may become damaged, increasing repair costs.
• Health of soil, plants and landscaping. If sprayed with salt, vegetation can lose its hardiness to the cold and be killed by freezing temperatures and high salt levels.
• Footwear and clothing. Salt stains and can ruin footwear and clothing.
• Vehicles, bicycles and wheelchairs. Salt accelerates rusting, causing damage and increasing repair costs.
• Health of waterways for aquatic life. Salt changes water density, which can negatively affect the seasonal mixing of lake waters. This mixing is important to increase oxygen levels required by aquatic life for survival.

More and more, salt is becoming a normal part of the winter landscape. As one of the many tools used to clear snow and ice, salt is spread over most surfaces where you walk, bike, drive, and park your vehicle. That’s a lot of area covered in salt!

You might not think of salt as a pollutant. However, TVO’s article Oversalted: Why Ontario needs a new approach to snow removal states “Environment Canada completed a five-year study in 2001 that concluded road salt should be added to its list of toxic substances, although the department did not actually ban the use of road salt.”

Keeping everyone safe and protecting the environment can be a tough balancing act. But using too much salt or when not needed isn’t good for plants, pets’ paws, cars, and buildings. 

But what about fresh water in lakes and streams and me – groundwater? Is salt really that bad for water? Doesn’t salt just go away after it melts the ice and if not, can’t technology be used to simply remove the salt from water?

Salt is a long-term pollutant that stays with water. 

Once salt is spread on the ground it stays in the environment. You might not see the salt anymore after the snow melts or when the salt is washed away with the rain but it’s still there. The salt can soak into the ground to mix with me and will build up over time or enter a local waterway through a storm drain.

Water and wastewater treatment does not remove salt from water.

Removing salt requires desalination, which is extremely expensive and energy intensive and greatly increases greenhouse gases. Including desalination as part of the treatment process would also result in much higher water costs for the community.

Chloride is the problem.

When talking about water pollution, it’s the chloride in the salt and ice melter products that’s the problem. This includes environmentally friendly products. Basically, if it melts the ice, it most likely contains chloride and is damaging to water.

Salt impacts the taste of drinking water

For drinking water, it’s all about the taste. The Ontario Drinking Water Objectives for chloride is 250mg/L. This is when a salty taste may be detectable by some people.

The maps below compare the chloride levels from 1998 and 2018 at the Region of Waterloo drinking water supply wells. The orange and red dots are groundwater wells with chloride levels near or exceeding the 250 mg/L limit. Currently, the Region of Waterloo must mix groundwater from different wells to lower the chloride levels.

Salt is harmful to aquatic life

The Canadian Water Quality Guideline states for the protection of aquatic life that the long-term exposure of chloride levels for freshwater should be below 120 mg/L.

Did you know a dragonfly eats hundreds of mosquitoes every day? Unfortunately, a salty pond can impact their numbers. A CBC article Salty dragonflies mean more mosquitoes, researchers reported in a study on how increased salt levels in a pond had little effect on mosquito larvae but were impacting dragonfly larvae.

Non-native or invasive species can also begin taking over areas meant for native wildlife. The price of salt: How road salts are affecting our Great Lakes written by Lake Ontario WaterKeeper shares how “Spots in Ontario have become so salty that there have been sightings of saltwater animals in the freshwater creeks. Reports of saltwater blue crabs living in Mimico Creek is just one troubling case that illustrates the extent of sodium chloride pollution in watersheds of Lake Ontario.”

Increasing salt levels in surface water is not limited to the GTA. The Grand River Conservation Authority measures water conductivity in the watershed. Although conductivity data does not measure chloride levels, it is an indicator that chloride is likely present.

Protecting water from salt pollution is a complex issue. It might not be realistic to stop salting completely; however, there are actions everyone can take to use less.

From where I’m looking there seems to be a love-hate relationship with salt. Sure, it is bad for me, groundwater – your drinking water. But when it’s time to deal with snow and ice, there isn’t anything else that works quite like salt. Have you ever thought about how much of your community is paved? There are the roads, community trails, sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. During the winter, all these areas need to be kept clear of snow and ice for both accessibility and safety.

When it comes to the environmental impacts of salt, the tendency is to point the finger at other people and groups. They are the reason so much salt is spread. What if I told you everyone, to some degree, contributes to the problem but can also be part of the solution. How can that be? You might be thinking “I don’t use much, if any salt” or “I only use such a small amount compared to others”. That might be so but let’s think about why salt is used. Sure, it makes removing snow and ice that much easier by lowering the freezing point when water in its liquid form changes to ice. That’s more of a technical answer but the reasons go much deeper making it a complex problem to solve.

Here are a few of those reasons why so much salt is spread.

Liability

The fear of being sued is one of the biggest reasons businesses spread so much salt. Too much is used, even when it’s not needed, or when it’s too cold for the salt to be effective.

Salt means safety

When you go for a walk or drive and see salt, it can make you feel safe. You know the property owner is doing their part to clear the snow and ice. But what if you don’t see salt on the ground. Does that mean it isn’t safe? Should you demand the property spread more salt? Maybe there isn’t any ice and salt isn’t necessary. Maybe salt isn’t the right tool for the current weather conditions. Or maybe the right amount of salt has already been put down and has turned into a liquid brine that – even though you can’t see it – is still hard at work. Whatever the reason, salt is not always the right or only tool for dealing with snow and ice. And not seeing salt on the ground doesn’t necessarily mean it is less safe.

Expectations

It’s winter. You are going to have to deal with snow and ice at some point. Yet there is an expectation to be able to travel the same as if it was summer. For this to be a reality can mean more salt spread to speed up the melting process. Is there a way to balance expectations for clear passage while still protecting me – your drinking water – from the damaging impacts of salt?

Changing weather

In Southern Ontario, winter can mean snow, freezing rain, rain, warm temperatures, or really cold temperatures. You get where I’m going with this. As weather patterns change, meeting expectations to keep areas clear of snow and ice can be a challenge and might include the spreading of more salt to meet expectations of clear pavement all of the time.

Personal safety

Wearing winter boots and switching to winter tires can seem like an inconvenience and an unnecessary expense. But living where there’s snow and ice should include taking these preventative steps to protect yourself. This also means giving yourself extra time to get to your destination and driving, biking, or walking for the current weather conditions.

Not everyone uses salt but everyone at some point uses the surfaces that are salted. Changing actions and expectations over time might help support the responsible use of salt required to better protect the environment including me, groundwater – your drinking water, because – well – I think I’m worth protecting.

When asked where salt is spread, many people will probably say roads. It’s true; levels of service requirements in Ontario make salt the prime tool in keeping roads safe. However, a lot of salt is also spread on parking lots, sidewalks and community trails. Unfortunately, because salt isn’t regulated and can be bought and used by anyone, the data for how much salt is spread on surfaces other than roads is not easy to get or reliable. Compared to roads, the application rate (how much salt spread in a measured area) for parking lots and walkways is thought to be two to three times greater. This is where we have the most opportunity to reduce chloride application. There are many reasons for potential over salting of parking lots and walkways that include lack of maintenance standards, outdated technology, and liability concerns.

Municipal snowplow operators who clear the roads must participate in winter maintenance training that includes salt management principals and have access to resources and current technologies related to winter operations to maintain winter roads in the most efficient way possible.

Here are just some of the ways municipalities are better managing salt use while keeping roads safer for your community:

• Snowplow operators receive training on how weather events can affect road surfaces and best management practices for salt
• Road and atmospheric weather sensors provide operations staff monitoring road conditions with data to determine the appropriate course of action. Advanced Road Weather Information System (ARWIS) consists of three weather stations the Region of Waterloo uses to collect information on pavement and air temperatures.

• Depending on weather and road conditions, some of the materials used may include:
  • Direct Liquid Application. This involves spraying a salt liquid on the road prior to a winter storm to prevent ice and frost from forming and bonding to the pavement. This is referred to as anti-icing.  Anti-icing uses less salt and increases the effectiveness of plowing early in the storm.
  • Pre-wetted salt. This is dry road salt with liquid salt brine applied on the dry salt 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 form a salt brine solution on the pavement.
  • Sand. Can be used on its own or in combination with salt to provide traction when salt is less effective when temperatures fall below -12 degrees Celsius.
  • Salt brine is a mixture of water and a salt such as sodium chloride, magnesium chloride or calcium chloride. The type of salt used determines the working temperature of the brine.
• Snowplows are equipped with:
  • Electronic spreader controls. Predetermined application rates ensure the correct amount of material is applied by the operator who selects rate of salt or sand based on the road and weather conditions.
  • Infrared thermometers. Provides 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 snowplows and amount of salt applied. Operations staff can review the information to minimize the application of salt while achieving the required level of service.
  • Blade technology. Snowplow blades follow the contours of the road to allow for the maximum amount of snow and ice to be removed mechanically thus reducing the amount of salt required.
• 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.

How you can help

• Switch to winter tires
• Drive for the weather conditions and give yourself extra time to arrive at your destination
• Respect winter plowing operations. Operators are out to make the roads safe. Avoid passing a snowplow and show courtesy to the job they are doing.
• When possible, consider leaving your car at home and taking public transit

I get it. Safety is top of mind. And in the winter, keeping your business clear of snow and ice is no easy task. So, what do you reach for? I’m going to say salt or some sort of ice melting product. Along with the cost to purchase salt there are the hidden costs you might not consider.

Protecting the environment including me – your drinking water – is important but I’m guessing someone slipping and falling on your property is a more pressing concern.

What if I told you there are actions you can take to reduce icy areas. Reducing icy areas can mean less salt on the ground – good for me – and allows you to better manage your risk from a slip and fall.

So, what can you do?

Start with a complete winter maintenance plan. Being proactive instead of reactive prepares your team for whatever Mother Nature might throw at them.

Walk your property on a rainy day with the help of our winter maintenance planning worksheet. Watch how the rain flows, pools or puddles on your property. This same water in the warmer months can turn to ice when the temperature drops. In other words, potential slip and fall hazards needing more salt to deal with the ice.

Here are my top five actions you can take to better manage icy areas and provide safer passage for your staff and visitors.

Repair leaky eaves troughs and downspouts

Leaky eaves troughs and downspouts can drip water on to paved walking areas that can turn into black ice, hard to see but easy to slip on. While taking that walk on a rainy day remember to look up for drips and leaks that can freeze into ice on a walkway.

Redirect downspouts away from paved areas

Downspouts draining on to paved areas can create icy areas that are hard to manage. Is it possible to move those downspouts so the water soaks into a grassy or landscaped area instead? Can you add an extension that takes that water to exit at a porous surface?

Close areas instead of salting

Closing areas not needed in the winter can reduce your risk from potential slip and fall hazards. As part of your winter preparations, identify areas you can close without impeding emergency exits, accessibility ramps, or entrances. Areas to close may include outdoor patios, overflow parking, redundant walkways or stairs.

Stop snow from drifting on to paved areas

Landscaping or snow fences can help keep drifting snow off paved areas and reduce icy areas from forming due to wind. Consider wind direction and elevation changes when choosing locations.

Store your snow where it won’t melt across paved areas

Where will you put the snow after it has plowed? Store snow on paved surfaces on the lowest area of the property near a catch basin to stop melted snow from refreezing across your parking lot.

Now you know my five actions to deal with the ice that can lead to slips and falls. Ready to take that walk? Make sure to grab your umbrella and this winter maintenance planning worksheet to help you document those trouble spots.

How would you answer if I were to ask you what is the one thing you can do to help protect me? Would you say shovel the snow?

If you are responsible for snow removal, whether it be for a walkway, parking lot, or driveway; shoveling or plowing the snow is exactly what you can do to help protect me – groundwater – your drinking water. The longer you wait to clear the snow, the more likely it is to be stepped on or driven on. And when that happens, the snow gets packed down, turns to ice, sticking to the surface and making it harder to remove.

That’s when in many cases, salt or ice melter is needed.

Try these snow and ice clearing tips to help you limit your use of salt while keeping areas clear of snow and ice.

Don’t delay

If snow is left too long or becomes packed down, it can turn to ice and become much more difficult to remove. Or, if it is a heavy snowfall, waiting until it stops snowing can mean a much heavier task. Do yourself a favour and get shoveling as soon as possible. When removing snow, remember to lift with your legs, and to take several breaks. Shoveling snow can be a strenuous activity, and strain combined with cold air can take a toll on your heart. If you have cardiovascular problems or a history of heart disease, speak with your doctor before attempting to shovel. Lifting snow improperly can also strain muscles, so remember to bend your knees, lift with your legs and take breaks. But there really is no replacement for good, old fashioned shoveling. Salt does not do what a little muscle power can.

Break up the ice with a steel ice chopper

Once you have cleared the snow you might have some areas where ice has formed. Try using an ice chopper to break up any remaining ice. Ice choppers also do a great job of loosening hard packed snow making it easier to clear away with a shovel.

Add traction when needed

If the sun is out and the temperatures are warming up, you might only need to provide some traction until the sun melts the ice away. Once the snow is cleared and you’re left with icy patches, you can use sand, grit or non-clumping kitty litter to create traction. This won’t melt the ice, but it will reduce the potential for slips and falls. If salt is needed, try a sand and salt mix that offers tractions and ice melting with less salt.

Check the temperatures

Before reaching for the salt check your local weather forecast. What is the current temperature? Is it getting colder or warming up? Now check the working temperature of the salt or de-icer you are using. Different types of salt and de-icers work at different temperatures. For example, sodium chloride salt works best between 0 and -10 degrees Celsius. If it’s too cold for the salt or de-icer to work, use a traction aid like sand instead. And if it’s warming up to above 0 degrees Celsius, instead of salt, let the sun do the melting for you. You might need to add some traction with sand while Mother Nature does its job of melting the ice. A steel ice chopper can also help with the ice and then clearing it with a shovel.

Use salt and ice melter wisely

If salt or ice melter is absolutely necessary, make sure to sprinkle on icy areas only. Salt isn’t for melting the snow. Leave the job of clearing the snow to your plow or shovel. It’s also important to give salt time to work. Even when you can’t see it anymore, it is hard at work melting the ice. And a little goes a long way. In many cases a few tablespoons of salt for a one metre square area – the size of a sidewalk slab – is all you need. A little salt goes a long way.

If you’ve ever purchased salt or another de-icing product, I’m sure you have discovered there isn’t just one cure-all, but several products that promise different things. And if you want to help protect the environment, product labels can be confusing.

Currently there are no labelling laws when it comes to deicers. The product might say environmentally friendly, 100% natural, or salt free. But is it?

Salt and most ice melting products contain chloride but how much? It's the chloride that is damaging to me, groundwater – your drinking water.

Before reaching for any ice melting product, read our snow and ice clearing tips.

Reading the labels of the different brands is important. Some products are more corrosive, whereas others are specifically designed to be safe around pets. Some products have finer grains allowing for a more even spread so it works faster and is more effective. The working temperature for these products can also vary making it crucial to follow package directions carefully.

Here’s a list of common active ingredients and the lowest melting temperature they are most effective. Keep in mind the melting temperature is for the pavement temperature and not the air temperature.

What to consider when buying your ice melter:

• Read the product packaging to understand what temperature your product works best
• The finer the grain the better – it will work faster and spread more evenly
• Whatever product you buy remember to use it sparingly to limit its damaging impact
• When using traction sand, look for a product with little or no salt (less than 5%)

Make sure to read the product instructions for your salt or ice melter carefully. Using too much salt, or using it when the product doesn’t work at all, wastes your salt and money, and can have a negative impact on the natural environment.

You’ve done your part to clear the snow and ice while limiting the use of salt. But when winter is finally done, what should you do with any salt that’s leftover?

Deicing salt can last indefinitely and can be kept until next season when stored properly throughout the year. Saving your salt for the following year reduces excessive waste and helps your wallet once winter rolls around again.

Does salt expire?

Rock salt, like other types of salt such as table and kosher, does not have a set expiration date. Because salt – sodium chloride – is an essential mineral, it can never spoil. This is the reason salt has been used as a food preservative and seasoning for thousands of years. If stored properly, salt can last indefinitely. So, there is no need to use it all up before the end of the winter season.

How to store salt until the next season?

Salt should be stored in a cool and dry place with few temperature changes. Keep your winter salt in an airtight container, as changes in moisture can cause your salt to clump together and harden. If the salt does end up clumping together, you can still use it by breaking it apart.

Wherever you store it, make sure to keep it out of the reach of children and pets. Winter salt and ice melter can be harmful if ingested, can irritate mouths and stomachs and, depending on the amount consumed, winter salt can be poisonous.

Sweep up your salt

Instead of buying more salt, save your money by sweeping up any leftover salt to use again. Don’t forget about any excess salt that has collected in driveway corners, steps, or walkways. Leaving it there for the rain to wash away adds to salt’s negative effects on your own gardens, buildings, other plant life nearby, and your drinking water.

How to handle and dispose of salt

Since salt doesn’t expire, consider keeping it for next year or donating it.

When handling salt, use a scoop and wear a pair of protective gloves if your skin will make contact with the salt. Handling salt can lead to “salt burns”, mild rashes, or skin irritations.

What not to do with deicing salt

• Do not throw salt out or pour it down a storm drain where it can impact the local environment
• Never use salt as a week killer. Salt robs soil of its moisture, creating a toxic environment for plant life. 
• Never replace your water softener salt with salt meant for melting ice. Water softener salt, unlike deicing salt, is specifically processed for water softening equipment.

On this page:

• 1800s
• 1900 to 1972
• 1973 to present

1800s

In 1882, the Municipal Waterworks Act passes providing municipalities the legal power to build their own waterworks systems. However, financial restraints exist without provincial or federal funding. When each town builds their waterworks system depends on public support, fire protection needs, location to river, population growth and economic development. Early considerations for the water source include water quantity and quality, and its location.

Berlin

• 1886: Berlin Board of Trade voices concern about fire protection
• 1887: Citizens vote down by-law to build $35,000 municipal waterworks system. Council invites tenders following water supply study.
• 1888: Council awards contract to American firm, Berlin Waterworks Company, to build pumping station at Shoemaker's Lake
• 1989: Water tower on St. George Street built that is later decommissioned in 1918
• 1896: Major factory fire causes a change in community acceptance of public water supply systems
• 1898: Citizens vote for municipal water works due to dissatisfaction with supply. Town purchases pumping station and equipment from Berlin Waterworks Company for $102,000.
• 1899: Berlin Water Commission forms and builds the first groundwater well near Shoemaker's Lake. Over the year, 10 wells are built that supply 4.5 million litres of water each day.

Galt

• 1887: Waterworks committee forms to investigate potential water sources and costs
• 1888: Citizens vote down by-law to build $100,000 municipal waterworks system
• 1889: Fire, Water and Light Standing Committee report renews interest in a regular water supply
• 1890: Public water utility formed
• 1890: By-law passes after new committee holds public meeting about proposed waterworks
• 1890: Middleton Water Pumping Station built to supply water from nearby springs. Water from the Grand River is too polluted to use as drinking water source.
• 1891: Water tower built with 977,000 litre capacity on St. Andrews Street that is later decommissioned in 2017
• 1895 to 1896: Water source for Middleton Pumping Station changes to groundwater with the construction of two wells

Waterloo

• Late 1800s: Citizens vote down public water works
• 1889: 10-year contract signed with Berlin Waterworks Company to supply water from Shoemaker's Lake in Berlin
• 1899: Municipal water works by-law passes due to dissatisfaction with supply
• 1899: Waterloo Water Works buys equipment from Berlin Waterworks Company and builds William Street Pumping Station and three groundwater wells for $40,000

1900 to 1972

Hespeler and Preston build their municipal water systems at a later time compared to Berlin, Galt, and Waterloo. Reasons may include a slower growth rate and location to the Grand River.

• 1914 to 1919: World War I slows expansion of municipal waterworks due to lack of labour and materials
• 1930: Municipal water is entirely from groundwater wells
• 1931 to 1934: Government work programs during the depression aid growth of water pipe network
• 1939 to 1945: World War II causes rising industrial water use, straining municipal supplies
• 1965: Waterloo County Planning Area established

Berlin (1916; renamed Kitchener)

• 1911: Water shortages lead to first lawn watering ban
• 1912: Berlin Water Commission shuts down Shoemaker’s Lake steam powered pumping station. Builds new electric powered pumping station where the Greenbrook Water Treatment Plant is today.
• 1922: Strange Street Water Pumping Station built to supply groundwater from nearby wells
• 1927: Water tower built with 3.8 million litre capacity on St. George Street that is later decommissioned in 2006
• 1953: Groundwater wells near Mannheim begin supplying groundwater
• 1955: Ontario Water Resources Commission established. Kitchener is one of 14 municipalities represented.
• 1960s: Wastewater treatment plant built on Mill Park Drive. Upgrades over the years improve quality of water returning to the Grand River watershed.

Galt

• 1901: All services metered to monitor water consumption
• 1902: Storage reservoir built for Middleton Water Pumping Station
• 1919: Galt Public Utilities Commission forms and promotes water conservation campaign
• 1931 to 1937: Water sold to Preston at a rate of five cents per 1,000 gallons due to Preston experiencing a water shortage
• 1949: Water tower built with 3.4 million litre capacity on St. Andrews Street

Hespeler

• 1909: Fire and Light Committee runs the Water Works Pumping Station and Electric Light Station
• 1915: By-law passes to approve $35,000 municipal waterworks
• 1922: Waterworks Committee of Council replaces the Fire and Light Committee
• 1923: Lawn and garden watering ban for one week to conserve water
• 1934: International Water Supply Limited hired to build a well for $5,000 to address inadequate water supply
• 1935: International Water Supply Limited hired to build an additional well for $2,800
• 1972: Water tower built with 3.4 million litre capacity on Edward Street that is later decommissioned in 1982

Preston

• 1905: Citizens pressure Council to set up municipal waterworks for fire protection
• 1906: By-law passes to approve waterworks and sewerage for $57,000. Preston Waterworks and Sewerage Committee forms to oversee properties and construction of waterworks.
• 1907: Waterworks in operation using springs as water source
• 1911: First lawn watering ban due to water shortages
• 1911 to 1920: Waterworks adds groundwater wells to increase supply
• 1920: Water billing switches from flat rate to amount used to control water consumption
• 1928: Waterworks adds another spring to increase water supply
• 1931: Storage reservoir added to waterworks
• 1931: Drinking water fountains and horse troughs disconnected due to water shortage
• 1931 to 1937: Galt supplies Preston with water at a rate of five cents per 1,000 gallons during water shortage
• 1950: Preston Public Utilities Commission forms

Waterloo

• 1910: Water commission becomes the Water and Light Commission
• 1928: Waterloo Public Utilities Commission replaces the Water and Light Commission
• 1950 to 1956: Waterloo is the fastest growing city in Canada with a population increase of 35.7%
• 1962: Wastewater treatment plant built on University Avenue. Upgrades over the years improve quality of water returning to the Grand River watershed.
• 1966: Fluoridation added to water to promote dental health (discontinued in 2010 following referendum vote)

Townships

• 1907: Elmira starts municipal waterworks
• 1951: New Hamburg completes municipal water supply system
• 1964: Elmira builds water tower with 1.5 million litre capacity on Howard Avenue

1973 to present

In 1973, Regional Municipality of Waterloo forms and assumes responsibility for municipal water and wastewater systems. Galt, Hespeler and Preston amalgamate to form the City of Cambridge.

• 1974: Water tower built with 2.2 million litre capacity on Preston Parkway, Cambridge
• 1974: First watermain swabbing used to clean watermain pipes
• 1978: Water tower built with 2.2 million litre capacity on Dalkeith Drive, Cambridge
• 1978: Wastewater treatment plant built on Water Street, Cambridge
• 1978: Water tower built with 5 million litre capacity on Stanley Street, Ayr
• 1979: Municipal water system built in Ayr
• 1982: Water tower built with 19.5 million litre capacity on Pinebush Road, Cambridge
• 1987: Water tower built with 27 million litre capacity on Conservation Drive, Waterloo
• 1989: City of Waterloo designates the William Street Pumping Station as heritage building for historic and architectural value
• 1989: Elmira water supply shut down from contamination in groundwater. Pipeline built o supply Elmira with water from the Integrated Urban System.
• 1992: Mannheim Water Treatment Plant opens to treat surface water from the Grand River
• 1993: Wellesley water treatment plant built
• 1993: Water tower built with 6.8 million litre capacity on Sportsworld Drive, Kitchener
• 1996: Upgrades to the Middleton Water Pumping Station in Cambridge include removing the original reservoir and increasing production by six times the capacity of the original waterworks with five groundwater wells
• 1997: City of Cambridge designates the Middleton Water Pumping Station as heritage building for architectural and historic value
• 1998: City of Kitchener designates the Greenbrook Water Treatment Plant as a heritage building for its importance in the early years of public service, and its Romanesque revival architecture in the 1930, 1959 and 1990 additions
• 2001: Water tower built with 6.8 million litre capacity on Floradale Avenue, Elmira
• 2005: Completion of Aquifer Recovery and Storage System (Phase 1) at the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant
• 2005: Region of Waterloo Water Conservation By-law passes to limit outdoor watering during the summer months
• 2006: Region of Waterloo assumes ownership and operation of the St. Agatha wells
• 2007: Build water tower with 5.4 million litre capacity on Snyder's Road, Baden
• 2010: Fluoride treatment removed from Waterloo water supply following referendum vote
• 2011: Pipeline built to supply St. Agatha with water from the Integrated Urban System
• 2014: Explosion shuts down Greenbrook Water Treatment Plant in Kitchener
• 2015: Greenbrook Water Treatment Plant in Kitchener resumes operations following extensive repairs from chemical explosion
• 2015: Water tower built with 7.2 million litre capacity on Ira Needles Boulevard, Waterloo
• 2016: Region of Waterloo Source Water Protection Plan comes into effect to protect water sources
• 2017: Pipeline built from Conestogo to supply West Montrose with water
• 2022: Innovative technology added to Galt, Kitchener and Waterloo wastewater treatment plants that captures and reuses methane gas
• 2023: Strange Street Water Pumping Station in Kitchener receives upgrades to remove iron and manganese from groundwater
• 2023: Laurel Water Treatment Plant in Waterloo receives upgrades to remove iron and manganese from groundwater
• 2024: Region of Waterloo assumes ownership and operation of the Petersburg water treatment plant
• 2025: Newly built pipe redirects groundwater from William Street wells in Waterloo to Strange Street treatment plant in Kitchener before entering distribution system

Galt (now part of Cambridge) was the first community in Waterloo Region to have a publicity owned waterworks. Galt – like many communities – wanted a waterworks for fire protection, but also to compete with nearby Berlin (now Kitchener) for industry and residents.

The year is 1888 and after much debate in the community, Galt votes down – 2 to 1 – having public waterworks. However, in 1890 a bylaw is passed and a construction contract signed to build a water pumping station on Middleton Street.

Even though the Middleton Water Pumping Station is built along the Grand River, the river is not an option for a water source. The river has very low flow. This is sometimes caused by control dams not yet constructed to control water levels. Water quality for the Grand River is also poor due to contamination from industrial discharges including dyes from nearby garment factories.

Wood reservoir at the Middleton Water Pumping Station.

Instead of accessing water from the Grand River, water is redirected from nearby springs. In 1895, the source switches to groundwater when the first well is drilled and constructed. The following year in 1896 a second well is built. Today, there are still operating wells in the same location, and it is very likely that they are the same wells; open holes drilled into the deeper fractured rock and sealed through the shallow rock to protect the deeper water quality.

In 1902, the long low section of the Middleton Water Pumping Station is the reservoir. This reservoir has since been removed but the north wall of the pumping station still shows the marks of the building.

In 1973, when Galt, Hespeler and Preston amalgamate to form Cambridge, the water works, including the Middleton Water Pumping Station, become the responsibility of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

In 1996, a new facility is built on the same five-acre lot to expand the capacity of the system to handle 20 million litres of water a day – six times the capacity of the original water works.

Today, all the water pumped at the Middleton Water Pumping Station is from five groundwater wells.

1997, the City of Cambridge designates the Middleton Water Pumping Station as a heritage building for its architectural and historic value.

Berlin’s beginnings start in the early 1800s and quickly becomes a thriving community. Between 1881 and 1891, Berlin’s population grew by 83 per cent. The blog Rye & Ginger: Berlin, Ontario until 1916, tells how “By the 1850s, the growing town became the County Seat. Its political and economic influence grew, helped by the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway.”

Let’s fast forward to 1888. A water system that includes fire protection becomes a growing interest for the community. To address this need, the Berlin Waterworks Company – privately owned by Moffet, Hodgins and Clarke – constructs the first water supply plant to serve this thriving and growing town. The plant is built near the water source – Shoemaker Pond.

The site is located at what is now known as Lakeside Park near where the Greenbrook Water Treatment Plant now operates at 20 Greenbrook Drive in Kitchener. Today, the area looks much different surrounded by residential homes. In 1888, the location is in the country with no homes in site. Today, if you look closely, remnants of the water supply plant foundation can still be found off the path that connects the Greenbrook Water Treatment Plant parking lot with Queen’s Blvd.

From 1888 to 1899, the water supply plant provides water from Shoemaker Pond to the residents of Berlin. I’m sure you can imagine what the water quality from the pond might look, smell and taste like – especially during the summer months. Public dissatisfaction with the supply persuades the citizens of Berlin to vote for a municipal water works, a very innovative idea for that time. In 1898, the Berlin Water Commission purchases the plant and takes over the responsibility of supplying water to the town.

On May 19, 1899, the Berlin Water Commission begins work to move away from supplying Berlin with water from Shoemaker Pond by drilling wells to extract groundwater. Throughout the year, 10 wells are constructed with the capacity to provide the community with about 4.5 million litres of water each day.

In 1911, the first prohibition on lawn watering is enforced in Berlin supported by the hard working, frugal nature of Berlin residents who value the importance of conserving water.

In 1912 a pump house – to help move groundwater once extracted from the wells through the distribution system – is built where the Greenbrook Treatment Plant now stands. Over the years, this building has expanded to included improved treatment processes.

 Berlin is now Kitchener with a population of more than 230,000. The 10 wells drilled in 1899 are no longer operational. There are five supply wells we use today. The wells were drilled in 1986 to 2015 and range in depth from 32 to 50 metres extracting groundwater from a sand and gravel aquifer.

Today, five supply wells, many monitoring wells, two reservoirs and a treatment plant make up the Greenbrook wellfield. The wellfield provides 8% of the drinking water for Kitchener – about 6.5 million litres.

1998, the Greenbrook Water Treatment Plant was designated as a heritage building for its importance in the early years of public service, and its Romanesque revival architecture in the 1930, 1959, and 1990 additions.

It’s the late 1800s. The Town of Waterloo – with a population of less than 3000 – is in need of a water system and must make the decision of how to supply water to the community. Waterloo voters reject a proposal of municipal ownership of the water works – a new idea at the time.

In 1889, the town signs a 10-year contract with Waterloo Water Works – a private company – to supply water to the community. The Waterloo Water Works company hires the Berlin Waterworks company to supply Waterloo with water.

From 1889 to 1899, the municipal water supply for Waterloo is piped from Shoemaker Pond in Berlin (now Lakeside Park in Kitchener). This water is not always of good quality.

In April 1899, the poor quality of the water supply influences the passing of a by-law for a municipal water works. This prompts the construction of the William Street Pumping Station and three drinking water wells funded through a debenture of $40,000. A small, open reservoir connected to the three underground reservoirs handles any overflow. The open reservoir also served as a decorative feature and often included fish.

The William Street property is shared with Waterloo North Hydro. In 1910, the town’s Water Commission becomes the Water and Light Commission and in 1928, becomes the Public Utilities Commission. Unlike the water utility, the power utility is later privatized as Waterloo North Hydro.

During the early days of the Water Commission, the chief operator lived in one of the homes behind the William Street Pumping Station. The operator had to live nearby in order to be available to fix problems and to keep the pumping station operational.

A diesel generator fueled with coal, powered the pumping station and was a backup source of power for the nearby Waterloo threshing plant. After electricity was connected, the diesel generator was used as an emergency backup power source. July 1989 was the last time the generator was used. The coal required to run the generator was delivered through a chute door next to the main door of the pumping station.

The wells that operate today were constructed in the 1940s and 1950s. They are about 35 metres deep and extract groundwater from a sand and gravel aquifer which is at the edge of the Waterloo Moraine. One reservoir with a 2.3 million litre capacity is located on the north end of the property.

In 1989, the City of Waterloo designated the William Street Pumping Station as a heritage building for its historic and architectural value.

In 2023, the Strange Street water treatment plant in Kitchener was upgraded to remove iron and manganese from groundwater. A pipeline was built between the William Street wellfield and the Strange Street water treatment plant. In 2025, groundwater from the William Street wells received treatment at the Strange Street water treatment plant before entering the distribution system.