|
The City of Red Deer, like other road authorities, uses road salts to keep Red Deer's major roads in safe winter driving condition. Although there is ongoing research into the use of alternative materials for winter maintenance, road salts continue to be the most cost-effective de-icers.
1. What are road salts?
2. Are road salts harmful?
3. How is The City managing the environmental impact of road salts?
4. How does The City's Salt Management Plan help the environment?
1. What are road salts?
Road salts include sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), potassium chloride (KCI) and magnesium chloride (MgCI2). The City of Red Deer only uses sodium chloride (NaCI). Road salts used for snow and ice control may be solid or liquid brines.
2. Are road salts harmful?
Health Canada released a report in 2001 that indicates road salts are not harmful to humans. However, a 2001 assessment report by Environment Canada indicates that road salts are entering the environment in amounts large enough to pose a risk to plants, animals, birds, fish, lake and stream ecosystems and groundwater.
As a result of the scientific assessment, Environment Canada recommended adding road salts to Schedule 1 (Priority Substances List) of the Canadian Environment Protection Act (CEPA). This recommendation led Environment Canada to release the Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts in 2004. For more information on Environment Canada's Code of Practice, visit Environment Canada (http://www.ec.gc.ca/) and type "road salts" in the search box.
3. How is The City managing the environmental impact of road salts?
The City of Red Deer has developed a Road Salt Management Plan in accordance with Environment Canada's Code of Practice.
The Management Plan sets out the policies and procedures for ensuring that The City of Red Deer continuously improves the management of road salt in its snow and ice control operations. The overall goal of the plan is to improve environmental protection without compromising road safety. These efforts demonstrate The City's commitment to reducing the adverse effects of salt use, in keeping with Environment Canada's stated objectives.
4. How does The City's Salt Management Plan help the environment?
The City of Red Deer has prepared a Salt Management Plan that outlines best practices for salt use and storage. For example:
Weather information - The decision to use sand and salt is based on sophisticated weather forecasting and information from road weather information stations near The City. These stations assist in predicting when snow and ice storms will occur and current conditions.
Storage - New measures are being implemented to prevent the release of stored road salts into the environment. The new civic yards has indoor structures to house road salt products used for snow and ice control. The structures fulfill the following functions:
- Prevent wind erosion of road salt products;
- Prevent stockpile runoff by keeping precipitation off stored products.
The structures were built on an impermeable surface which prevents salt from seeping into the surface drainage water, groundwater and soil beneath the depot. In the unlikely event of salt runoff from the site, a containment pond is on-site.
|
