Snow and Ice Management MN
Did you know? Salt affects our water.
Any salt that enters a storm drain does not to a waste treatment facility. It goes directly into a local lake or river. Whatever washes off your yard, driveway, sidewalk and street and into a storm sewer will go directly to lakes and rivers.
Maintain Your Property To Help Prevent Damage
Since the early 1950s our metro area waters have become increasingly salty. Chloride levels have risen so high that many metro area creeks are now considered unhealthy.
Chlorides harm plants and animals, contaminate our drinking water, damage buildings, and corrode vehicles, roads and bridges. Too much salt results in costly damages and serious environmental consequences.
Storm drains carry excess water from streets and homes to nearby lakes and rivers; that makes your property a waterfront property. During the cold winter months, salt that is applied to our streets eventually flows into our lakes and rivers. Help keep our waters clean this winter by following these few simple steps.
Before the storm
Apply a liquid de-icer before snow storms to prevent snow and ice from building up. However, this is not a substitute for shoveling; it just makes it more effective.
Tip: You can make your own liquid deicer! Mix 2 cups of hot water and one cup of salt.
Shovel That Snow!
Shovel, snow blow, snow plow and/or sweep. These are all effective measures that will remove snow and minimize ice build-up.
Less is Better
When applying salt, if there are leftover crystals still visible, the salt has been over applied. Sweep up and reuse any lawn care products that fall on streets, sidewalks and driveways.
Temperature Matters
At low temperatures salt begins to become less effective; check your product for more details. When the temperature falls below 15° F consider using sand as an alternative to salt.