Application Rates: Introduction
Applying the right amount of salt is one of the most effective ways for property managers to maintain winter safety on parking lots, sidewalks, and drives while reducing environmental impacts. Most people are surprised to learn that effective melting requires far less salt than what is typically used. In fact, applying more salt than needed does not melt ice faster, it simply increases the amount of chloride that washes into our local waterways and accumulates in them over time.
By understanding proper application rates, we can maintain safe surfaces, use less product, and save money, all while preventing damage to sidewalks and landscaping and reducing environmental harm. The goal is to use the least amount of salt possible — if any is needed at all — while still maintaining safe parking lots, sidewalks, and drives. Balancing Safety, Cost, and Environmental Impacts, provides more information on the effects of salt on our environment and infrastructure.
Why use less salt?
Chloride from salt (sodium chloride) is a permanent pollutant. By reducing the amount of salt applied to driveways, sidewalks, and steps, we reduce the amount of chloride entering our streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Chloride also damages soils, vegetation, concrete, vehicles, and can be harmful to wildlife. Using less salt helps save on costs of environmental and infrastructure damage.
The section Balancing Safety, Cost, and Environmental Impacts is all about the effects of salt on our environment.
Contracting for winter maintenance
On-site maintenance staff and contractors should follow winter maintenance best practices to minimize salt use. See Balancing Safety, Cost, and Environmental Impacts for more information on best practices and hiring a contractor that practices smart salting.
Below are some resources to help you find a contractor that will use practices that minimize salt use. Look for a certified contractor. Although certification doesn’t guarantee they will use best practices, they are aware of them and likely recognize the value of using some of them.