East SideToo much salt! Try beets, and proper shoveling
Beet juice/salt deicer blend in use
As the snows and ice have descended, the city and many businesses cover the sidewalks and roads with a variety of deicing chemicals. Some areas are often completely covered with piles and drifts of rock-salt, the most common and oldest of the five common deicers.
However, there are a number of problems with use and over-use of deicers. As water melts with the salt, it forms a chemical brine that can corrode roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure (not to mention everybody’s hardy winter footwear!), shortening their lifespan and creating need for costly replacement. What’s more, the runoff enters the ecosystem, affecting plants, our soil and our water systems, and studies have shown significant impacts.
NPR recently reported on a new biodegradable deicing blend utilizing beet roots, being used in Akron, Ohio and other municipalities. It’s more expensive, but it’s a liquid, favored by operators and agencies for ease of use, reduces corrosion, and reduces salt runoff into the environment. As the city looks to invest in a greener future, exploring earth-friendly deicers and encouraging people to limit private use should be a part of its efforts.
Deicers marketed as “environmentally friendly” are often just a mixture of regular deicers, blended to reduce environmental impact a little, but still having negative effects. However, smart use of eco-friendly deicing strategies would be an improvement. Shoveling or snowblowing as soon as possible is key.
