What do our local municipalities use for ice removal?

Impacts of Rock Salt Liquid Chemicals

Ice
 Chemical formula: sodium  An alternative to traditional rock salt
chloride (same as table salt)  Usually consists of liquid mixture of calcium
 Some rock salt is treated with chloride and agricultural-based de-icers

Removal chemicals to help prevent

corrosion and increase
effectiveness
(plant based products designed to be more
eco-friendly and don’t contain chemicals)

 Abrasives like sand and Pre-icing Treatments

crushed limestone can also be  A brine mixture of rock salt and water
mixed with rock salt to provide  Applied to roads before icing events
traction for vehicles

While de-icing methods make roads and sidewalks safer, chemicals and
impurities from de-icers can make their way into soils, groundwater,
storm drains, and water systems like the Olentangy River.
There is no natural removal method for chloride once it makes it into the
water. It must either be diluted or washed downstream.

Birds Pets
Our avian friends Our furry friends can ingest
consume rock salt chemicals by eating snow
pellets, which can be or drinking melted snow
poisonous to them. and ice. Chemicals can
also irritate their paws.

Vegetation Aquatic life

Salt can kill plants and Excess chloride in our
other vegetation, which water systems can be
help provide a natural buff- toxic to fish, aquatic
er to prevent runoff from insects, and
streets into the water. amphibians.

Resources:
What you can do to minimize impacts of ice removal: Ohio Department of
Transportation
1. Use calcium chloride or magnesium chloride as an alternative to sodium New Hampshire
Department of Environmental
chloride Services
2. Use liquid forms of salts instead of solid pellets MS Consulting, Inc.

3. Plant salt resistant trees and plants in your gardens and walkways
4. Avoid over-application of salt on your property – use only what you need!