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Ice melt vs rock salt: experts reveal the best solution | Homes & Gardens

Extreme weather this winter has brought snow to parts of the country that aren't quite used to it yet. If you haven't seen snow in years, you may not know the right way to de-ice your outside spaces.

If you're new to de-icing a driveway, you have two options: ice melt and rock salt. However, the right one to use isn't obvious. Both solutions have a lot of sales jargon so it isn't always clear which one is best for your paths and driveways. Both solutions can be toxic, too, so it's worth working out which is safest.

I spoke to de-icing experts about the crucial differences between ice melt and rock salt and discovered which is the right option for specific yards.

What's the difference between ice melt and rock salt?

If you are wondering how to de-ice garden paths, then you should know the difference between ice melt and rock salt. 'There is a simple chemical distinction,' explains snow management expert Chrissie Handley, who explains that 'ice melt is a de-icing solution made from a blend of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride. The solution is known to dissolve much faster than regular de-icing salt due to its high solubility and works by lowering the freezing point of water to create a saline solution, melting snow and ice from driveways and paths.'

Rock salt, on the other hand, is just regular salt, exactly the same chemical as table salt. Chrissie explains that 'Rock salt is also known as ‘gritting salt’ – it’s a naturally occurring mineral formed from sodium chloride (salt) and is usually extracted from underground mines worldwide. You can also get white de-icing salt, which is extracted from evaporated seawater. This tends to be a cleaner de-icing salt alternative.'

The main benefit of using ice melt in your winter garden is that it works at much lower temperatures than rock salt. Chrissie Handley says: 'If you live in a very cold climate, an ice melt containing calcium chloride, either alone or in a blend, is typically the best choice. Depending on its concentration and whether it is mixed with other de-icers, these ice melts can remain effective at temperatures as low as -25°F.'

On top of that, ice melt is softer on concrete surfaces than rock salt. Chrissie says: 'While both de-icing salt and ice melt can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including pavements, roads, and parking lots, ice melt is typically gentler, making it safer (though not completely, as it can still erode surfaces over time) for cars and concrete.''

This American-made ice melt is as good as it gets. It has a traction agent to keep you from slipping, blue dye to make it easy to see where you've applied the salt, and it works at temperatures as low as -2°F. The only drawbacks are the price and claims about pet safety - users report that it's fine for their animals, but no ice-melt is completely pet-safe.

What are the disadvantages of ice melt?

The drawback to ice melt is that it's toxic. Even 'pet-safe' ice melts can irritate skin, and they can even be fatal if ingested. Chrissie Handley says: 'Although ice melts are labeled as pet- and child-friendly and are generally deemed not as corrosive as standard de-icing salt, they are not completely safe. Ingestion can cause unpleasant side effects such as vomiting or diarrhea, so you should avoid using ice melt in areas where pets or wildlife may come into contact with it.'

While ice melt is less likely to damage concrete than rock salt, it's still not a perfect product. Chrissie says that: 'Ice melt is less corrosive than de-icing salt but can still penetrate concrete and weaken it over time. Concrete, especially newer, less cured types, can suffer from scaling, flaking, and cracking when exposed to the solution.'

Grounds manager Chris Metcalf adds that buying ice melt can be trickier than rock salt. 'Ice melt is more expensive compared to rock salt. It is less readily available, so it can be difficult to source the product during periods of high demand.'

Rock salt has a lot of advantages, but they depend on the type of salt you use. Chrissie Handley explains that: 'Salt comes in two main types: rock salt, which is cheaper than white salt and used on roads, often leaving brown residue, and white de-icing salt, which leaves no residue and is used to de-ice schools, hospitals, and offices.'

The main benefit of white de-icing salt is that it looks much cleaner. Chrissie told me that: 'White de-icing salt is an excellent choice for areas with heavy foot traffic. It is purer than rock salt and leaves no residue, ensuring that carpets, tiles, and other indoor surfaces remain clean.'

However, white de-icing salt can be expensive, so most people use rock salt. 'Rock salt- also known as brown salt, road salt, or grit - is commonly used by highway agencies and spread by gritters during cold weather,' says Chrissie. 'Its durability makes it ideal for high-traffic areas such as roads and large parking lots. However, it does leave a slight brown residue, so despite being more affordable, some people prefer white salt.'

You don't need anything fancy with rock salt. This simple 25lb of rock salt will melt snow and ice on your driveway. Just make sure your concrete has been treated first, because salt can make concrete crack.

What are the disadvantages of rock salt?

Chris Metcalf says there are a few disadvantages to rock salt. The first is that it's more corrosive than ice melt. Chris says: 'Rock salt tends to be more corrosive to concrete, asphalt, vehicles, plants, and turf. It's much more easily tracked indoors, which can cause damage to flooring and carpets.' It does a lot more damage than ice melt, so it isn't the best option if you have untreated concrete.

Chris adds that rock salt doesn't work in every climate, and warns that: 'Rock salt has limited effectiveness in temperatures below 15 degrees.' While 15°F is fairly uncommon across the country, it's fairly routine in northern states, especially those bordering Canada, so ice melt is usually a better choice.

Rock salt doesn't last as long as ice melt, either. Chris says: 'Rock salt does not have long-lasting residual effects, which may require additional applications.' So, while rock salt is cheaper, you get through much more of it than ice melt.

FAQs

Are there alternatives to ice melt and rock salt?

Several rock salt and ice melt alternatives are less harsh on the environment. Chrissie Handley explains: 'When salt or ice melt is used in excessive amounts, it can potentially wash into the surrounding ground. This can lead to browning and killing of nearby grass, shrubs, and trees. Additionally, it can leach into the groundwater, potentially contaminating drinking water sources, including nearby rivers.'

This means that if you don't see heavy winters, you're probably better off using urea. Chrissie says: 'In milder climates, less aggressive de-icers like potassium chloride or urea might be preferable to minimize environmental impact.' Urea is available at Walmart and other stores, but it's more expensive than ice melts.

Ice melt and rock salt aren't the only way to de-ice garden paths and patios in the winter. There are also some intriguing ice melt alternatives made from common home products that might be a more cost-effective solution. Our guide has all the information you need to know.

Ottawa's road salt use is the highest in Canada. Here's what you need to know

At the risk of pouring more salt into the wound of our long and wicked winter weather , Ottawa is the Canadian road salt champion.

We use more rock salt compounds — an average of 156,000 metric tonnes for each of the past five winters — than any other municipality in the country.

We don’t foresee city council calling for an order of “We’re Number One” T-shirts or baseball caps, but there is plenty of spice that goes into those heavy salt trucks that keep us from slipping on our icy roads and sidewalks during snowy and icy conditions.

The science and environmental concerns have evolved and the city now uses both standard road salt — also known as halite — and calcium chloride for melting purposes.

Elsewhere in North America, cities are using salty beet, pickle, molasses and cheese compounds to melt ice.

We’ll get to more of that tasty conversation in a moment, but first, a little history.

When did we start shaking salt on the streets?

When the rubber started hitting the road and vehicle traffic soared in the 1930s and 1940s, road salt became the magic Band-Aid solution to help keep cars out of ditches during the worst winter weather.

The science for its success in keeping roads safe is simple enough. Saltwater, a combination of sodium and chloride, freezes at a lower temperature than standard water. Accordingly, when it’s applied to roads and sidewalks, the ice melts.

At $65 per metric tonne, salt also has the added benefit of being relatively cheap, compared to other melting compounds.

Calcium chloride is more effective because it melts at an even lower temperature, but it costs $140 per tonne.

For comparison’s sake, EcoTraction, a gritty sand-like mixture sold in stores and generally used to improve stability on sidewalks and driveways, retails at more than $1,600 per tonne.

Considering how much salt we use, every dollar counts.

During the mild winter of 2023-24, when only 133.7 centimetres of snow fell, the city used more than 120,000 metric tonnes of salt and there were 91 freeze-thaw cycles. In 2022-23, with 329.5 centimetres dropping and 75 freeze-thaw cycles, the salt load topped 204,000 metric tonnes.

Across Canada, five million tonnes of road salt is used each winter.

How much damage can that cause on and under the streets?

Plenty. Rust, as Neil Young once wrote, never sleeps.

Over time, excessive salt use has significant corrosive effects on roads, underground pipes and cars.

Car rust might be good for the automotive repair industry, but it’s bad for the lifecycle of vehicles in cold climates.

It also leads to asphalt breaking down in the freeze-thaw cycles, leading to the nightmarish potholes that test our patience and use of four-letter words.

Metal and concrete supports on bridges are also especially vulnerable to damage.

“Salt, in terms of sodium chloride, can penetrate into the concrete and the chloride ions can disrupt the protective layer that is naturally formed around the steel rebars in concrete structures,” said Jieying Zhang, principal research officer at the National Research Council of Canada’s construction division.

“This can cause corrosion of the steel. When that happens, the corrosion can disrupt the concrete’s integrity and crack it.”

Can road salt make its way into the ground and waterways?

Absolutely. The salt run-off from the roads, often called “salt splash,” can increase the level of chloride in the atmosphere.

The Ottawa Riverkeeper has just completed a five-year study, including 500 samples taken at 12 locations, about the impact of road salt on the city’s watershed. The findings were “devastating”, according to Larissa Holman, director of science at policy for Ottawa Riverkeeper. Due to increased chloride, the samples taken at dozens of locations — including Green’s Creek, Mother Award Ditch, Nepean Creek, Nesbitt Creek and Pinecrest Creek — were found to be either “acutely toxic” or “chronically toxic”. Higher chloride levels were even found in the summer when it enters the water following heavy rainfalls.

“Once it breaks down and does what it’s supposed to do, it moves to sewer systems and often into local creeks,” said Holman.

The health of the smallest organisms, which often live at the bottom of the water, is affected. “It has a huge impact on the ecosystem and there’s decreased biodiversity,” she said.

Higher levels of sodium in the water supply also pose problems for those with hypertension.

Have those concerns been heard?

Environmental agencies throughout North America have offered guidelines on reducing salt use. However, while the

the Canadian Environmental Protection Act of 1999 determined that certain salts — including those “containing inorganic chloride with or without ferrocyanide salts” were posing a risk to fish and water ecosystems — Holman says there’s limited punishment for those who use too much.

The biggest problems stem from salt use on the roads where traffic is densest.

Private contractors and homeowners, she says, also typically use far too much salt than is necessary. One coffee mug of road salt spread thinly is enough to melt the ice on a two-car driveway.

Holman says a pilot project in Gatineau, where only gravel and dirt are being used on the roads in five neighbourhoods, holds some promise.

The city of Ottawa does consult with the Ottawa Riverkeeper and follows provincial guidelines that include seeking out alternative solutions to cut back usage wherever possible, depending on existing conditions.

“The city uses a variety of materials at different application rates that match the weather,” said Christopher Paquette, program manager for operational research and projects. “We tailor our application rates to the specific conditions, adjusting for snow and ice accumulation rates and temperature ranges. A large portion of the rates are a mixture of rock salt and liquid calcium chloride.”

Ottawa city plows have been outfitted with the new rubber blades that are replacing steel blades on most of the city’s snow plows. Amos McWilliams, a heavy equipment operator for the city of Ottawa, inspects the rubber which is mounted on the former steel plow blade in this file photo.© Tony Caldwell

What else is the city doing?

Beginning last winter, the city introduced something called Ground Speed Oriented Electronic Controllers on three sidewalk spreading units. The goal is aimed at improving efficiency and addressing environmental concerns. The system helps “monitor and adjust salt applications in real-time based on vehicle speed and surface conditions,” according to Paquette.

The benefit is that salt is distributed “ensuring precise calibration and optional use.”

This winter, the controllers are being used in a dozen sidewalk spreading units.

The city is also using new carbide-encapsulated rubber blade segments on its heavy snowplows, which should also reduce the amount of salt necessary.

“It has shown great promise to scrape the roads better, which results in a reduction in salt application,” said Paquette.

Why do trucks pre-coat the roads before major weather events?

The calm before the storm is vital in getting ahead of the nastiness.

Pre-salting roads establishes a layer of “brine” on the pavement, which decreases how much ice can form. In Ottawa, liquid calcium chloride is often mixed with standard road salt. The additional advantage of applying a liquid layer is that road salt is less likely to splash away.

Ottawa city snow plow during a snow storm in a file photo.© Tony Caldwell

Does road salt run-off have an impact on building ice for the Rideau Canal?

It can, if only to a small degree.

While the Rideau Canal Skateway is operated by the National Capital Commission, the city of Ottawa is responsible for salting Colonel By Drive and the Queen Elizabeth Driveway.

“Road salt is introduced not only from nearby driveways but also from the numerous overhead bridges that cross the Skateway,” said NCC strategic communications advisor Benoit Desjardins. “Additionally, storm drains also contribute salt to the canal, all of which create challenges for ice formation.”

And those wooden planks along the Queensway bridge atop the Canal? They were installed by the Ontario government to reduce how much snow and salt drop onto the ice surface.

So, what about those vegetable and cheese cocktails?

Toronto, Halifax and Laval are among the Canadian cities that have experimented by spraying a salty beet brine on roads before major storms. The benefits include cost efficiency, and the fact it’s easier on the environment and can melt ice at lower temperatures. The beet concoction also freezes at a lower temperature than standard road salt, which begins losing effectiveness at minus 7 degrees Celsius. It is possible to create homemade solutions for driveway use but beware, purple beets can leave a mark. Anyone who has digested beets is familiar with the colouring that occurs.

In the U.S., transportation agencies are increasingly using what’s available to them to find more environmentally friendly road brines. That includes pickle juice on some roads in Pennsylvania, which is home to the Heinz pickle factory.

A salty cheese mixture is also being used in — where else? — Wisconsin, where three billion pounds of cheese is produced each year. Rather than have companies pay to dispose of waste, the state collects it and then re-uses that leftover brine. Just like the beet and pickle mixtures, the cheese cocktail is mixed with road salt. It, too, freezes at a lower temperature, reducing icy conditions.

It certainly provides food for thought in keeping at least some of the ice away.

Highlighting effects of road salt in Delaware River Basin | NJ Spotlight News

Credit: (Stroud Water Research Center)

Studies suggest that freshwater chloride concentrations in winter are as much as a hundred-fold above summertime levels, according to the Delaware River Basin Commission.

For wintertime drivers who expect clear roadways with near-blacktop conditions, a slow-moving salt-spreader spraying grayish granules from its spinning plate can be a welcome sight.

Though such trucks and their payloads work to minimize a hazard — motorists sliding off slick roads — they also pose a hazard of their own: harming the environment and human health through the overuse of road salt.

There’s a growing awareness of how road salt applied to streets, sidewalks and parking lots can pollute lakes, streams, and drinking water, corrode roads and bridges, and pose dangers to people who have sensitivities to salt.

Public service campaigns, like the Stroud Water Research Center’s “Cut the Salt” effort, have started to sink in, said a center spokeswoman, Diane Huskinson. “It’s working because people are becoming more aware,” she said. “We’re hearing from random folks who say, ‘I didn’t salt today.’”

Credit: (Stroud Water Research Center)

Salt contamination is more pronounced in areas with impervious surfaces, like parking lots.

The effort to reduce the use of winter salt is crystallized in a larger nationwide campaign, Winter Salt Week, which kicked off Monday that is drawing participants throughout the Delaware River watershed.

Why it matters

Organizers of Winter Salt Week estimate that 20 million to 30 million tons of road salt are used each winter. That’s the equivalent to the weight of 175,000 blue whales or 62,000 passenger airplanes.

The significance of the overuse of salt is that it does not go away. It dissolves and moves with water into streams, rivers and even into groundwater.

Salt, as it’s sprayed and scattered through the air, can fall on plants and grass, leaving vegetation with salt burn.

Past research done by the Stroud center has found some water sample tests came back with salinity measurements as high as what would be found in the ocean, Huskinson said. “There are real, direct human health impacts,” she said. “Whether people realize it or not, it has an impact on their lives.”

How?

• More of your money, some in the form of your tax dollars, has to be spent to fix the corrosive damage done by salt. The cost of vehicle and infrastructure damage and extra road maintenance is estimated nationally to be more than $60 billion each year, according to Winter Salt Week organizers.
• If you are an outdoors enthusiast, an angler or a birder, take note because high chloride levels from road salt can harm aquatic life and habitats.
• For people who are on salt-restricted diets or have sensitivities to salt, excessive salt seeping into their drinking water can be harmful.
• It’s not unheard-of that homeowners have had to rely on bottled water or install expensive filtration systems after their private wells were poisoned by road salt that worked its way into groundwater systems that feed their water supply.
• Salt, as it’s sprayed and scattered through the air, can fall on plants and grass, leaving vegetation with salt burn.

Elaine Panuccio, a water research scientist at the Delaware River Basin Commission, pointed out the damage that salt can do to municipal water treatment facilities.

“Increasing salts (in particular, chlorides) can corrode pipes and cause the leaching of metals (of specific concern are lead and copper from older systems) as chloride is a persistent and highly corrosive ion,” she said in an email. “Additionally, older homes may have lead pipes that can be at risk of corrosion from salty water.”

‘Hiding in plain sight’

Stephanie Uhranowsky, the executive director of the Brodhead Watershed Association, attributed the explosive use of road salt to increased development, changing expectations about how much paved surfaces should be snow- and ice-free, and growing concerns about liability from slip-and-falls. She cited, for example, a New Hampshire study that found that parking lots accounted for half of the road salt usage.

Credit: (Willistown Conservation Trust)

A test strip shows a chloride level of approximately 150 milligrams per liter, a concentration high enough to threaten sensitive freshwater species in the Delaware River watershed. The EPA secondary standard for chloride in drinking water is less than 250, but less than 31 is often recommended for those on salt-restricted diets.

She said it’s easy to spot pollution or contamination when it’s readily visible, such as litter or debris along a roadside or a chemical spill, but noted that “salt has its way of hiding in plain sight.”

“We expect to see it there in winter just as we do snow,” Uhranowsky said in an email. “And we don’t often stop to consider how much is too much. Salt comes with an invisible impact, one not easily seen or acknowledged when the snow melts and the salt washes away. Out of sight, out of mind.

“To the naked eye, salt seems to disappear,” she continued. “But it doesn’t. It’s absorbed into our rivers, streams, and creeks, it seeps below the surface and infiltrates our groundwater, it makes its way into our drinking water and private wells, and ultimately, it flows downstream. It also accelerates the corrosion of pipes and vehicles along with the erosion of critical infrastructure.

“However, these issues can often go unnoticed simply because we aren’t actively looking for them or fail to recognize their significance until the damage — such as the harmful effects of salt pollution — has already been done. That’s why community awareness and the encouragement of best practices when it comes to mitigating winter salt pollution are so important.”

Monitoring efforts

The Watershed Institute is the New Jersey representative to the national Winter Salt Week initiative. The institute hosts NJ Salt Watch, a volunteer water monitoring project that is still accepting new volunteers. For the institute’s current volunteers, it will be wrapping up Winter Salt Week on Friday with a statewide snapshot, according to Erin Stretz, the assistant director of science and stewardship at the institute, which is based in Pennington, N.J.

“Our goal is to gather as much data as we can during a single day, and during similar weather conditions, so we might discern how chloride levels change with differences in regional road salt application rates,” she said.

Stretz is also giving a road salt talk for the Delaware River Greenway Partnership’s Heritage Lecture Series on Feb. 11, entitled “Drains to River: The As-SALT on Our Freshwaters.” Sign up here.

The Delaware River Basin Commission has also been monitoring the various effects of salt on the basin.

“Studies suggest that chloride concentrations in winter are as much as a hundred-fold over summertime levels,” according to the commission, which added that higher chloride concentrations are connected to the presence of impervious surfaces, such as parking lots.

Credit: (Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership)

In conjunction with Stroud Water Research Center, volunteers from the Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership in 2022 gathered water samples from across the watershed to be tested for chloride levels.

Elevated chloride concentrations have also been a concern in the non-tidal Delaware River, which is protected under the DRBC’s Special Protection Waters regulations. A commission spokeswoman, Kate Schmidt, said the DRBC is working to understand and address freshwater salinization, specifically within Special Protection Waters.

A study was conducted from 2021-23 and next steps are being developed, she said. Further, DRBC staff members plan to monitor chloride levels in the river this winter, especially as thawing occurs.

“Over the past several years, instream monitoring of the non-tidal river has shown an upward trend in chloride concentrations,” the commission said on its website. “While concentrations are still below criteria for drinking water and aquatic life use, the DRBC is watching this trend closely.”

In 2022, the commission formed the Salinity Impacts Freshwater Toxicity Workgroup to sift through the escalating issue of freshwater salinization and increasing chlorides in rivers and streams and discuss regulatory and road salt management options.

Winter Salt Week testing and events

The Stroud center for the first time is participating in Winter Salt Week, which began on Jan. 27 with a series of webinars. For more information and to register for the webinars and the stream sampling, check out the Stroud Water Research Center’s Winter Salt Week list of events, which on Thursday will feature a policy solutions panel and a 30-minute lightning round of presentations followed by a question-and-answer period, starting at 1:30 p.m.

On Friday, Jan. 31, the Stroud center is hosting water sampling at more than 100 sites in the West Chester, Pa., area. The center has about 25 partners across the Delaware River Basin and Pennsylvania that will also be engaged in sampling, leading to at least 250 sites being tested.

Stroud center officials anticipate having a data entry system up and running so that results will be available in real time through an online map.

How you can help

Some tips from the Brodhead Watershed Association and DRBC:

• Shoveling snow early can prevent ice from forming and minimize the need for salt.
• Always shovel before applying salt.
• A little salt goes a long way. Excess salt will not melt snow any faster.
• Sweep up any excess salt to prevent it from entering storm drains.
• Bear the temperature in mind. Traditional salt is only effective above 15 degrees.
• For those with a wood-burning fireplace, ash absorbs sunlight and will help melt ice quickly on a sunny day.
• Follow #cutthesalt on social media for updates and helpful tips.

How to Melt Icy Sidewalks and Driveways—Without Rock Salt or Chemicals

op_emily-fazio_diy-ice-melt-solutions_snowy-sidewalk-with-ice© Provided by Home Living on Men's Journal Pursuits

Winter's icy grip can turn your once-welcoming driveway and walkways into treacherous obstacle courses. Though traditional rock salt remains a go-to for many, a plethora of DIY snow melt solutions exist (and most common ingredients can be found right in your own kitchen).

Look around and you'll find that homeowners use many different materials to add traction to icy surfaces. From table salt, kosher salt, and coffee grounds for instant traction on ice, to a few drops of dish soap and kitty litter, you might have success somewhere along the way. We favor spray solutions or materials that easily dissolve. Simply put: liquid and dissolvable treatments are neater, and you won't have to deal with tracking in coffee grinds into your home or staining your deck with beet juice.

Winter's icy grip can turn your once-welcoming driveway and walkways into treacherous obstacle courses. Though traditional rock salt remains a go-to for many, a plethora of DIY snow melt solutions exist (and most common ingredients can be found right in your own kitchen).

Look around and you'll find that homeowners use many different materials to add traction to icy surfaces. From table salt, kosher salt, and coffee grounds for instant traction on ice, to a few drops of dish soap and kitty litter, you might have success somewhere along the way. We favor spray solutions or materials that easily dissolve. Simply put: liquid and dissolvable treatments are neater, and you won't have to deal with tracking in coffee grinds into your home or staining your deck with beet juice.

Downsides of Rock Salt

While commercial ice melt remains a go-to for many, its downsides are well-documented:

• Accelerated corrosion of metal surfaces, including vehicles, bridges, and infrastructure. This corrosion will affect the underside of your car.
• Runoff from melted snow can enter water bodies, posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems. Excessive salt levels in water can harm fish, plants, and other aquatic life.
• Damaging to soil structure and plant health. It may lead to soil compaction and cause vegetation to experience dehydration, nutrient imbalances, and overall stress.
• Irritates pets' paws, causing discomfort and potential injury. Ingesting salt can also be harmful to pets, leading to health issues. Pet-safe ice melts are preferable all-around.
• Less effective in extreme cold temperatures, typically below 20°F
• Residue can accumulate on roads, sidewalks, and other surfaces, leading to a white, crusty appearance. This buildup may require additional cleaning efforts.
• It's more effective at preventing ice formation than melting thick layers of existing ice. In cases of severe ice accumulation, other de-icing methods or additional materials may be needed.
• It needs to be reapplied. It's only a temporary solution, especially during extended periods of frigid temperatures and precipitation.

Are there downsides to using calcium chloride or magnesium chloride?

Yes, there's an environmental impact. In short, calcium chloride can harm vegetation and damage carpets. Magnesium chloride, while thought to be safer for icy conditions, tends to be too expensive for frequent use.

DIY Ice Melt Alternatives to Rock Salt

1. White Vinegar

• Vinegar reigns supreme as a natural de-icer. Its low freezing point (around 28°F) disrupts ice crystal formation, causing ice to melt.
• Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a simple yet effective solution. For thicker ice, adjust the ratio to 40% water and 60% white vinegar.
• Remember, vinegar's acidic nature can dull concrete over time, so it's best for occasional use or on paths with alternative paving materials.

2. Baking Soda

• For a gentle approach, baking soda's got your back.
• Sprinkle it liberally on icy surfaces. While slower than vinegar, baking soda lowers the freezing point of water, gradually melting the ice. Its abrasive texture also provides traction on slippery surfaces, making it ideal for steps and walkways.
• Bonus: baking soda is pet-friendly and won't harm vegetation.

3. Household Alcohol

• Isopropyl alcohol, the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol, also boasts ice-melting prowess. Its low freezing point (-130°F) makes it an incredibly effective de-icer, even in harsh temperatures.
• Combine one cup of Isopropyl alcohol with two cups of hot water in a spray bottle for a potent concoction. Mixing the alcohol with water tackles the ice layer without adding a layer of grit.
• Note: alcohol's flammability and potential to harm plants necessitate caution. Use it sparingly and avoid contact with pets.

4. Citric Acid

• Citric acid, found in citrus peels and commercially available in powder form, is a homemade de-icer. You probably never thought of it as a perfect ice melt!
• Mix one part citric acid with three parts warm water in a spray bottle. The acidic nature works similarly to vinegar, but with less bite.
• Remember, citrus solutions can also attract curious pests and pets, so keep an eye out.

Bonus Tips

• Prevention is key. Apply these homemade ice melt solutions before snowfall to prevent ice formation in the first place.
• Shovel first, melt second. Keep your shovel handy and clear snowy surfaces before applying homemade solutions for maximum effectiveness.
• Use it where it matters most. Reserve your homemade deicer for high-traffic areas like steps, walkways, and slippery driveway edges.
• Go natural wherever possible. Natural ice melt products are always best. Prioritize pet-friendly and vegetation-safe options like baking soda and citric acid. Some homeowners even use sugar beet juice.
• Monitor closely. Reapply solutions as needed, especially after snowfall or heavy precipitation.
• Use a carpet remnant at your entryway. Remember that many places you walk during the winter use rock salt and other harsh chemicals. Leave a piece of old carpeting near your entryway and leave your shoes there to avoid tracking it through the house.

Road salt making Ottawa-area waterways 'toxic' to wildlife, report finds | CBC News

Expert advises individuals use more gravel or sand mixed with road salt

A new report from advocacy group Ottawa Riverkeeper makes four recommendations for cities, large property owners, and local residents to reduce the amount of salt ending up in the rivers. The report found 90 per cent of samples taken over five years contained toxic levels of chloride. (Rhianna Schmunk/CBC)

A five-year study that involved taking hundreds of water samples in the National Capital Region has found that the vast majority were "toxic" to wildlife due to road salt levels, according to a new report.

The findings were released Monday by Ottawa Riverkeeper, a local non-profit which advocates for the sustainable use of the Ottawa River.

Starting in the winter of 2019-2020, the group worked with community scientists to study how much road salt ends up in local rivers. 

"Unfortunately, the impact of road salt on aquatic ecosystems can only be described as devastating," the report said.

It issued four recommendations targeted at cities, large property owners and regular individuals in the hope that the effects of road salt — which last throughout the year — can be mitigated.

This map shows where Ottawa Riverkeeper collected water samples in the National Capital Region. It tested the smaller streams which feed into the larger Ottawa River because they wind through urban areas where road salt is likely to enter the ecosystem. (Ottawa Riverkeeper)

'Shocking' revelations

Larissa Holman, Ottawa Riverkeeper's director of science and policy, said they became curious about the impact of road salt after learning about the harms other cities were experiencing.

Community scientists in Ottawa gathered about 500 water samples from 45 locations at streams in populated areas — streams that feed into the Ottawa River and "support the wildlife and the organisms" that are part of the watershed, Holman explained.

According to the report, only 10 per cent of the samples collected over the five years had safe levels of chloride (the key component of road salt). 

It was a "shocking" revelation, Holman said.

"Almost everywhere we were testing, at one point or another, the water that supports freshwater ecosystems was toxic to those organisms that live there," she said.

High chloride levels even continued into the summer, long after snow clearing and road salting had stopped, the scientists found.

The report also compared Ottawa and Gatineau's five worst streams, finding that none of the samples taken in Ottawa were safe although some were safe in Gatineau.

Holman attributed the difference to Ottawa being a denser city with more frequent road salt applications and cleanings.

Road salt also seeps into soil and eventually reaches the groundwater, causing the salinity of above-ground water to rise slowly and consistently over time, according to Philippe Van Cappellen and Jovana Radosavljevic, ecohydrologists at the University of Waterloo.

It's usually the main driver of drastic changes to salinity of water in urban areas, said Radosavljevic, who has been studying how urbanization over time has affected the overall ecosystem of a lake in Richmond Hill, Ont.

A five-year study by Ottawa Riverkeeper identified these five bodies of water in Ottawa as having the largest percentage of samples containing high concentrations of chloride. No samples collected from Green's Creek, Mather Award Ditch, Nepean Creek, Nesbitt Creek and Pinecrest Creek were deemed to be safe. (Ottawa Riverkeeper)

The study also identified the five waterbodies in Gatineau with the largest percentage of samples containing high concentrations of chloride: Cutter Creek, Des Fees Creek, Desjardins Creek, Moore Creek and Queen's Park Creek. (Ottawa Riverkeeper)

'Big mind shift' needed

The report's four recommendations are:

1. That municipalities and large property owners should take provincial guidelines about road salt more seriously and maintain and upgrade their equipment where necessary.
2. That they should also have road salt management plans.
3. That sensitive ecosystems which can't tolerate any road salt must be identified and protected.
4. That individuals should educate themselves about how to use road salt appropriately.

In the report, Ottawa Riverkeeper said it had shared its data with the City of Ottawa and had trained snow-clearers how to salt properly.

Holman explained that, after the temperature drops below –7 C, road salt isn't very effective — and it's almost useless if it drops to –10 C, so using sand and gravel is important.

"That's a really big mind shift away from what we see in some of these commercial spaces or really urbanized spaces where road salt is applied in quite large amounts," she said. 

Learning how long the salt stays in the water after the snow melts highlighted that 'more needed to be done by individuals and by different organizations to help reduce their their road salt use,' Holman said. (Matthew Kupfer/CBC)

Van Cappellen said it's not "very realistic" to completely stop using road salt or to entirely replace it, and that officials need to "start to think in terms of a circular salt economy" where the salt in the water, soil, and skies are all taken into account.

He suggested other solutions, like collecting salty water from highways to reuse as road salt, using excess heat from buildings to heat sidewalks and roads, and adjusting liability laws so that individuals and property owners don't over-salt out of fear of being sued. 

Rochester preps for Winter Salt Week - ABC 6 News - kaaltv.com

(ABC 6 News) – Winter Salt Awareness Week, a collaboration of organizations across the United States and Canada dedicated to raising awareness about salt pollution and finding ways to reduce the amount we use, begins Monday.

Salt pollution is a major problem in Minnesota, specifically from deicing salt used on roads and sidewalks.

Forty percent of all salt pollution in the state comes from road salt.

Rochester alone uses between 3,000 and 5,000 tons on average – a significant amount considering it only takes a teaspoon of salt to permanently pollute just five gallons of water, and the city isn’t even covering every inch of its 450 miles of road.

“We’ve set a level of service for the city and for us that’s main roads we’re generally getting to bare pavement,” said Dan Plizga, street maintenance manager for Rochester Public Works. “Once you get off into neighborhoods, especially dead end streets, you know we’re going to plow. If it’s a hill we might sprinkle a little salt.”

In many spots around the city, you can see the physical damage that much salt causes.

You may even see it on your car.

However, there’s a less visible impact happening in our waterways.

Chandi McCracken-Holm is the Smart Salt training administrator for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, overseeing the programs that teach people how go about reducing their salt output.

“The state of Minnesota currently has a standard of 230 mg/L at which we know that there is an effect on aquatic life,” she said. “When it comes to fish, that means the higher the concentration of chloride in the water body, the smaller they may grow.”

Luckily, Rochester’s waterways aren’t doing too bad.

“As of this moment, the levels of chloride in the river are not into the danger zone,” said Keith Hanson, a member of the Izaak Walton League’s Rochester chapter, a partner of the city’s Salt Week events. “We’d like to keep it that way.”

That’s where all the work the city and the state is doing comes in.

All throughout Winter Salt Week there will be virtual events people can attend to learn more from experts on how to reduce their own salt use, and how they can get their communities involved.

“We aren’t saying we don’t want you to use salt,” said Rachel Strauss, Rochester’s environmental education specialist. “We’re just saying be aware that you don’t need to use a lot of salt. It doesn’t need to crunch under your feet.”

Rochester specifically is also doing a Salt Watch Monitoring program.

Volunteers will receive a kit that allows them to measure the chloride content of a given body of water, and then report their findings so that local governments, scientists, and others can use the data to make better informed decisions.

A special educational meeting will be held Friday, January 31 at 1:30 P.M. at St. Marys University-Rochester for those interested.

Rockford-area environmentalists advocate for ‘beet-er’ options to salt winter roads

These silly snowplow names are getting attention. Here are the best ones.

There’s Dolly Plowtown. Beyonsleigh. Saline Dion and Taylor Drift. Watch out for Clark W. Blizzwald, Han Snowlo, and Darth Blader. 

Put down that novel – F. Salt Fitzgerald might be roaming a street near you this winter.  

As snow blankets much of the United States in a rare winter storm that's impacting much of the country, plows and salt trucks with cheeky names are gearing up to pick up the mess from Massachusetts to Nebraska, Arlington, Virginia, to Wichita, Kansas.

Call it a winter craze sweeping the nation. Literally.  

In the past few years, cities and states across the country have begun holding naming contests for snowplows and other winter weather vehicles. The goal: to add some levity to stressful storms, promote safe driving and shed light on the work of emergency response crews. 

“We thought it would be a fun engaging way to connect and engage with Connecticut residents and commuters – all in the name of safety,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation spokesperson Josh Morgan. “It is a reminder to them to not crash into us, to keep it easy and slow down on the roads.” 

Connecticut has hosted a naming contest for its residents for the past three years, Morgan said. Last year, the state’s Department of Transportation partnered with 40 local schools for the contest to teach young children how to safely navigate around plows.  

Some of the winning entries included SnowBob Plowpants, Up2 Snow Good and Fast & Flurryous. Morgan expects this year’s winning names to be released by Friday.  

A PennDOT plow truck heads west while clearing snow on Route 5 in Girard Township on Jan. 16, 2025.© GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS/USA TODAY NETWORK

Chicago snowplow names unveiled

The city of Chicago on Wednesday announced the winners of its annual "You Name a Snowplow" contest. The names, selected from a group of 50 finalists, will be given to one snowplow in each of Chicago's six snow districts. Residents who submitted the names will get a chance to take a photo next to the named plow.

Several of the winning picks pay homage to the city

, including Lollaplowlooza, named after the Chicago's annual music festival, and Bean there, Plowed That, after the famous Cloud Several of the winning picks pay homage to the city, including Lollaplowlooza, named after the Chicago's annual music festival, and Bean there, Plowed That, after the famous CloudGate sculpture in the center of the city. Other winning names include Bozo the Plown, My Kind of Plow, Snower Wacker and Scoop, There It Is.

A new tradition 

The quirk of naming snowplows isn’t unique to the United States. The trend appears to have begun in Scotland. Traffic Scotland's website the origins back to a 2006 naming contest for “gritters,” what they call plows, among school children in the country.  

But Ryan Gilbert, a spokesperson for the national transportation agency, Transport Scotland, said the country didn’t officially launch its national contest until 2016. It was designed to bring attention to Scotland’s “Gritter Tracker,” which allows people to follow plows’ progress and see what roads around them have been treated. 

Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop visited the Burghmuir gritter depot in West Lothian to see “Scotland’s Bravest Gritter," a vehicle named by Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company.© Ian Rutherford

Today, the country’s entire fleet of 240 Gritters have all been lovingly named by citizens through local radio, newspaper and school contests. The names range from pop culture icons to snow puns.  

Creativity knows no bounds – so the agency had to set some. Titles need to be less than 25 characters long, or under four words. Inappropriate entries and ones with swear words are not accepted. 

This year’s fleet includes Mr. Snow-it-all, Salt Shaker, Carrie Bradthaw, Sled Zepplin, Icetalavista Baby, Brine Freeze, to name just a few.  

Municipalities across the United States have adopted similar snow plow trackers. Arlington County in Virginia began its naming contest this year to spread the word about its snow and ice map.  

“We wanted it to be a fun way for people to follow along, but also bring awareness to just the hard work that these crews do,” Kiara Candelaria Nieves, a communications specialist for the county’s department of environmental services, said of the emergency response crews and private contractors that operate the plows.  

Other winning names

If you live in a state that sees snowfall, chances are the plows that scrap your streets have nicknames, too.  

Alaska, Nevada, Minnesota, Vermont, Delaware, Massachusetts, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Ohio all have launched similar contests.  

Here are some of the winning names from coast to coast.

• Plowy McPlowface 

• CTRL-SALT-DEL 

• You're Killin' Me Squalls 

• Yer a Blizzard, Harry 

• The Big LePlowski 

• Snowbi Wan Kenobi

• Ope, Just Gonna Plow Right Past Ya 

• Melton John 

• Sleetwood Mac 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These silly snowplow names are getting attention. Here are the best ones.

Environmental impact of road salt

Wisconsin encourages limiting use of road salt to protect waterways