mcm#6 pollution prevention/good housekeeping road salt application & storage road salt...

MCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good HousekeepingMCM#6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

Road Salt Application & StorageRoad Salt Application & Storage

Part 3Part 3


NPDES program designed to NPDES program designed to reduce pollution from stormwater reduce pollution from stormwater runoff. Roadway salt application runoff. Roadway salt application is one source of pollution. is one source of pollution.

The Goal of NPDES Program is The Goal of NPDES Program is reduction in product use, use of reduction in product use, use of environmentally friendly environmentally friendly alternatives.alternatives.


Road Salt Application & Road Salt Application & StorageStorage

Environmental ConsequencesEnvironmental Consequences Alternative ProductsAlternative Products

– Emerging TechnologiesEmerging Technologies Storage and MixingStorage and Mixing Product Use TrackingProduct Use Tracking


Road Salt – Environmental Road Salt – Environmental ConsequencesConsequences

Growing concern over Growing concern over roadside habitat roadside habitat degradation, wildlife kills, degradation, wildlife kills, and water-quality issues and water-quality issues

Runoff to surface waters Runoff to surface waters and percolation to and percolation to groundwater are the most groundwater are the most common mechanisms for common mechanisms for road salts to enter water road salts to enter water supplies supplies


Road Salt - Environmental Road Salt - Environmental ConsequencesConsequences

Exposure to NaCl inhibits some Exposure to NaCl inhibits some soil bacteria soil bacteria

Loss of bacteria creates friable Loss of bacteria creates friable soils which can lead to suspension soils which can lead to suspension of sediment in runoff of sediment in runoff

Salt also disrupt the uptake of Salt also disrupt the uptake of plant nutrients and inhibits long-plant nutrients and inhibits long-term growthterm growth


Salt use jeopardizes the health of Salt use jeopardizes the health of consumers of contaminated water consumers of contaminated water supplies especially those with supplies especially those with heart or kidney disease heart or kidney disease

corrodes automobiles, bridges, corrodes automobiles, bridges, and other infrastructure and other infrastructure



California and Nevada restrict California and Nevada restrict road-salt to reduce chloride injury road-salt to reduce chloride injury to roadside treesto roadside trees

Massachusetts turned to Massachusetts turned to alternative road deicers to alternative road deicers to prevent contamination of prevent contamination of residential drinking wellsresidential drinking wells



Europe is about 10 years ahead of Europe is about 10 years ahead of the U.S. in decreasing both costs the U.S. in decreasing both costs and salt use while maintaining and salt use while maintaining safetysafety

Increasing its use of pre-wetted Increasing its use of pre-wetted solid chemicals as well as use of solid chemicals as well as use of salt brinesalt brine



Sodium Chloride (NaCl) Sodium Chloride (NaCl) Product most commonly used Product most commonly used

because it is relatively because it is relatively inexpensiveinexpensive

Calcium, potassium, and Calcium, potassium, and magnesium chlorides all used, but magnesium chlorides all used, but to a lesser degree than NaClto a lesser degree than NaCl

Road Salt - Alternative Road Salt - Alternative ProductsProducts


Applied in liquid Applied in liquid or crystalline or crystalline form, either of form, either of which can be which can be used in used in conjunction with conjunction with abrasives (sand)abrasives (sand)

Brine Storage Tank

Road Salt Alternative ProductsRoad Salt Alternative Products


Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Calcium Chloride, Magnesium ChlorideChloride

More expensive than NaClMore expensive than NaCl Both can be applied as granules Both can be applied as granules

or liquidor liquid Commonly used with rock saltCommonly used with rock salt Calcium chloride is more Calcium chloride is more

corrosive than rock saltcorrosive than rock salt



Calcium chloride and magnesium chlorideCalcium chloride and magnesium chloride Benefits:Benefits:

– Works at lower temperatures (-25 C)Works at lower temperatures (-25 C)– Decreases the toxicity of metals Decreases the toxicity of metals – Improves soil characteristicsImproves soil characteristics– Magnesium chloride causes less vegetation damageMagnesium chloride causes less vegetation damage– Melts fasterMelts faster– No cyanide additivesNo cyanide additives– Magnesium chloride is less corrosiveMagnesium chloride is less corrosive

Negatives:Negatives:– Costs more than salt (7 times more) Costs more than salt (7 times more) – Calcium chloride is more corrosiveCalcium chloride is more corrosive



Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA)Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) Benefits (compared to salt) Benefits (compared to salt)

– Less vegetation damage Less vegetation damage – Improves soil structure and permeabilityImproves soil structure and permeability– Decreased metal toxicity Decreased metal toxicity – Less toxic to aquatic biotaLess toxic to aquatic biota– Biodegradable Biodegradable – No cyanide additives No cyanide additives – No new spreading equipment needed Cover trucks No new spreading equipment needed Cover trucks

to prevent cakingto prevent caking– Adheres to pavement longerAdheres to pavement longer– Less mobile in soil, no groundwater contaminationLess mobile in soil, no groundwater contamination



Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA)Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) Negative Aspects (compared to salt)Negative Aspects (compared to salt) More expensive (about 20 times)More expensive (about 20 times) Potential for oxygen depletion of watersPotential for oxygen depletion of waters Not as effective below 23 degrees FNot as effective below 23 degrees F Blown by wind more easilyBlown by wind more easily 20% greater volumes needed (increases need 20% greater volumes needed (increases need

for storage space and # trucks used)for storage space and # trucks used) Slower acting (15-30 minutes)Slower acting (15-30 minutes) less effective in freezing rain, drier less effective in freezing rain, drier

snowstorms, and light-traffic conditionssnowstorms, and light-traffic conditions



Anti-Icing AgentsAnti-Icing Agents wide range of different substances wide range of different substances

can be used as anti-icerscan be used as anti-icers Anti-icing is a preventative approachAnti-icing is a preventative approach Local experiments are needed to Local experiments are needed to

choose the most appropriate anti-choose the most appropriate anti-icer to use for specific types of icer to use for specific types of roads and storm conditionsroads and storm conditions



Pre-Wetted SaltPre-Wetted Salt Benefits (compared to salt):Benefits (compared to salt):

– Less wind and traffic scatter Less wind and traffic scatter – Dissolves fasterDissolves faster– Penetrates snow and ice fasterPenetrates snow and ice faster

Negative Aspects (compared to Negative Aspects (compared to salt):salt):– Need for special equipmentNeed for special equipment



Sand/Salt MixturesSand/Salt Mixtures Benefits (compared to salt): Benefits (compared to salt):

– Decreases amount of salt usedDecreases amount of salt used– Less toxic to aquatic biota Less toxic to aquatic biota – No new equipment needs No new equipment needs

Negative Aspects (compared to salt)Negative Aspects (compared to salt)– Sand may damage some aquatic habitatSand may damage some aquatic habitat– Sand may add excess nutrients to watersSand may add excess nutrients to waters– Less effective in certain conditionsLess effective in certain conditions– Fewer corrosion problemsFewer corrosion problems



SafeLane – Alternative SafeLane – Alternative PavementPavement

SafeLane is a surface overlay that will SafeLane is a surface overlay that will not eliminate chemical applications not eliminate chemical applications but rather lessen the frequency of use but rather lessen the frequency of use

There is an Ohio test location for the There is an Ohio test location for the application; I-80 eastbound, application; I-80 eastbound, Brecksville Ohio Brecksville Ohio

Contact: Jerry Bergstrom, Ohio Contact: Jerry Bergstrom, Ohio TurnpikeTurnpike

Emerging TechnologiesEmerging Technologies


SafeLane – Alternative PavementSafeLane – Alternative Pavement Curing time is hours, not daysCuring time is hours, not days Minimal traffic delayMinimal traffic delay Reduced potential for work area accidentsReduced potential for work area accidents Can be installed over concrete, asphalt, steel, FRP Can be installed over concrete, asphalt, steel, FRP

or woodor wood

Emerging TechnologiesEmerging Technologies


Salt StorageSalt Storage Keep coveredKeep covered Clean-up Clean-up

loading areasloading areas Mix inside Mix inside

storage areastorage area

Road Salt – Storage & MixingRoad Salt – Storage & Mixing


Use salt and grit carefully during snow events…Use salt and grit carefully during snow events…

Road Salt Application BMPsRoad Salt Application BMPs

. . . and exercise care washing the truck after use.


Track product usage and application areas.Track product usage and application areas.



Track product Track product usage and usage and application application areas.areas.



Roadway salt application is an Roadway salt application is an important source of stormwater important source of stormwater pollution. pollution.

NPDES Program goal is to reduce NPDES Program goal is to reduce product use and use environmentally product use and use environmentally friendly alternatives where possible.friendly alternatives where possible.

Road Salt Application & Road Salt Application & StorageStorage

mcm#6 pollution prevention/good housekeeping road salt application & storage road salt...

Documents

runoff salt

use of salt brine

kidney disease salt

roadway salt application

road salts

longterm growth salt

source of pollution

alternative road deicers