“Excess salt from winter maintenance activities can get into our storm drains, local streams and rivers. When it doesn’t run off over land, salt can seep into the ground and find its way into underground aquifers,” said Eric Hodgins, Manager, Hydrogeology and Source Water. “Left unchecked it could lead to higher salt levels and a change in the taste of our drinking water.”

Based on a ‘less is more’ rock salt management strategy, the Region of Waterloo’s Smart About Salt program provides benefits to snow removal contractors, businesses and organizations that implement the program components – training, tracking, contract administration, and operational and site self-assessments – to improve parking lot and sidewalk maintenance. The implementation of these factors will reduce excessive uses of salt without sacrificing safe walking and driving conditions.

Snow removal contractors and organizations that implement all of the components will receive a Smart About Salt designation and reap the following program benefits: potential insurance rate reduction, marketing advantage, access to detailed weather forecasts and real-time weather data.

The Region of Waterloo is now accepting registration into the program. Registered contractors and organizations will receive the program guidance materials at orientation sessions. The first session is scheduled for February 15 at Regional Administration Headquarters, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener. At these sessions, snow removal contractors and site operators will learn comprehensive strategies to reduce salt consumption while benefitting environmentally and financially.

The Region of Waterloo’s Smart About Salt program follows the successful implementation of a salt reduction program at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities Campus. This is a real-world example of how the government, major institutions and residents all pulled together to reduce salt use while maintaining safe driving and walking conditions. The Minnesota project reduced snow removal materials (rock salt, ice melt and sand) by two million pounds (approximately 900 tonnes) and recorded a net savings of $55,071 U.S. As a result of implementing this program, the University of Minnesota recently won an environmental leadership award for significant changes it has made to clearing snow and ice from its campus.

“We know that we can reduce salt applications without compromising service or safety levels,” added Hodgins. “Ultimately, less salt is better for all of us.”