Is salt, sand, or de-icer best to use during the winter?
Melted snow flows over our driveways, into the nearest catch basin, and directly into our waterways.
Salt in our fresh water can be quite harmful to plants, wildlife, and people. Some use sand, and while it doesn’t carry chemicals into our waterways, it does clog catch basins and cause flooding. It can also carry other pollutants into our waterways. If used, excess sand should be swept up.
De-icer is a preferable alternative to both salt and sand, but it is still not perfect, and should be used smartly and sparingly. De-icers include sodium or potassium acetate and calcium magnesium acetate.
Here are some tips to keep pavement safe and waterways clean:
- Use de-icer (sodium acetate, potassium acetate, and calcium magnesium acetate) instead of salt (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride).
- Shovel early and often. Remove as much snow and ice as you can, and only use de-icer on what you can’t take care of with a shovel.
- Follow product instructions and only use as much de-icer as you need. More is not better.
- During heavy snowfalls, shovel early and often to avoid snow compacting and forming ice.
- For wet snow or sleet and freezing rain, apply a de-icer product early to prevent snow from bonding or ice from building up.