Roads & parking lots
imsert map of impervious surfaces in watershed??
Reducing Chloride Runoff and usage
Chloride Application Efficiency
Tips for Efficient Application:
- Retrofit trucks with applicator regulators. This helps reduce the amount of salt being applied to the roads. Furthermore, if the trucks are already retrofitted, ensure that the equipment is working correctly and is calibrated.
- Don't overfill the trucks. When overfilled, truckers often use the whole load instead of saving extra de-icer for the next application.
- Train salt truck driver regularly to help improve efficiency.
- Further descriptions of methods to reduce road salt application can be found by following this link.
Brine solution
|
sugar beet solution
Sugar beet solution is similar to a normal brine solution, with the addition of sugar beet juice. A typical solution ratio is 85% Brine Solution, 10% Sugar Beet Juice, and 5% Calcium Chloride. This solution will also help lower the operating temperature. Typically normal rock salt becomes inactive at -20 degrees Celsius, but with the addition of the sugar beet solution the effective operating temperature is reduced to -35 degrees Celsius.
The sugar beet solution is a practical mean of adhering the solution to roads because of its tackiness that will hold it to the pavement better. When traffic goes over it, it doesn't get carried away, like traditional rock salt application does. Not only does it make the product placement more lasting and effective, but it also helps lessen the degree to which salt from the brine solution will runoff into local waterways.
The sugar beet solution is a practical mean of adhering the solution to roads because of its tackiness that will hold it to the pavement better. When traffic goes over it, it doesn't get carried away, like traditional rock salt application does. Not only does it make the product placement more lasting and effective, but it also helps lessen the degree to which salt from the brine solution will runoff into local waterways.
more plowing, less saltMoney saved by the switch to a brine solution application of road salt may be used in part to fund increased plowing, further reducing the need for additional salt applications. Plowing around parked cars is difficult, however if there is coordination of parking zones when snow is predicted then plowing can be implemented more efficiently and effectively.
|
salt storageStoring the salt in an enclosed or covered facility prevents it from being be directly exposed to precipitation, this dramatically reduces the potential for this salt to enter the stream from the storage location. Improperly stored salt can cause large amounts of the salt to be washed away directly into near by water bodies, however we have not identified any uncovered salt piles in the Kiefer Creek Watershed.
|
cleanup and reuse of excess salt
Once chloride has been applied to the driving surfaces of a watershed, it will eventually run off into the stream. By cleaning up excess road salt and reusing the salt that has already been applied in the watershed, we can reduce the total amount of salt used in the watershed, which is critical to reducing the chloride load that impairs aquatic life in Kiefer Creek. It is also important to keep salt loading areas tidy, and minimize and cleanup spillage.
|