The Village incorporates many practices that help to lessen the environmental impact of snow removal from its roads. This has been a national discussion that is gaining momentum recently: how can we lessen the impact of salt that is being used on roads to help keep those on the road safe during the winter. The Department of Public Works has taken the initiative to find ways to do just that and has implemented these practices over the past few years.
The first is the use of what is called ClearLane® instead of regular rock salt. ClearLane is a pre-wet sodium chloride made from a patented liquid magnesium chloride formula and mixing process. Combined with pre-wetting and deicing agents, including a PNS-approved corrosion inhibitor, a coloring agent, and a leaching inhibitor, it is a superior deicer for effective winter road maintenance that’s anti-corrosive and better for the environment than traditional road salt. Maybe you noticed this sea green colored substance on the roads this winter and wondered what it was.
In addition to using a better solution the DPW has cut back significantly on the overall amount of salt that is uses on our roads, cutting it’s consumption from 1200 tons down to less than 1000 tons.
The Village DPW also incorporates, when applicable, the technique of brining. According to Cargill; this has “proven an effective and economical solution to fight snow and ice, brine is growing in popularity”. Brining is placing a layer of brine on the surface of the pavement before a winter storm has begun to prevent snow and ice from freezing to the road. This can be effective in certain situations and lowers the over all need for regular salt after a storm.
Unfortunately like many environmental issues, there is no perfect solution. But it is important that those in positions to make decisions can try to strike a balance, in this case between safety of it’s residents while driving and the environment.
