Changes

*[http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/ Smart about Salt]<ref>Smart About Salt Council (SASC). n.d. Smart About Salt: Winter Salt Management Program. http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/</ref>

*[http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/ Smart about Salt]<ref>Smart About Salt Council (SASC). n.d. Smart About Salt: Winter Salt Management Program. http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/</ref>

** The website of the Smart About Salt Council (SASC) that offers training, recommendations, research and up to date new articles about the importance of proper management and use of rock salt on Ontario roadways, parking lots, private and residential properties. Training is offered in both English and French.  

** The website of the Smart About Salt Council (SASC) that offers training, recommendations, research and up to date new articles about the importance of proper management and use of rock salt on Ontario roadways, parking lots, private and residential properties. Training is offered in both English and French.  

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Alternatives-to-salt-technical-brief.pdf STEP Technical Brief: Alternatives to Salt]<ref>STEP. 2020. Alternatives to Salt: What else melts snow and ice? Technical Brief. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Alternatives-to-salt-technical-brief.pdf</ref>

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Alternatives-to-salt-technical-brief.pdf STEP Technical Brief: Alternatives to Salt]<ref>STEP. 2020. Alternatives to Salt: What else melts snow and ice? Technical Brief. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Alternatives-to-salt-technical-brief.pdf</ref>

**STEP released a technical brief on the alternatives to municipalities across Canada using salt as their primary deicer agent in winter, which has significant impacts (corrosion of infrastructure and other metal structures such as railings and doorways; damage to vehicles; contamination of surface and groundwater; impacts to roadside vegetation; increased wildlife collision rates; and large amounts of product waste due to blowing or bouncing off roadways). Numerous alternatives were tested to see what could feasibly replace the overreliance on rock salt which at a high-level include: chloride deicers, acetate deicers, and agricultural by-products (organics). Read more about the benefits, drawbacks, cost estimates and lowest working temperature for a given deicing agent.

**STEP released a technical brief on the alternatives to municipalities across Canada using salt as their primary deicer agent in winter, which has significant impacts (corrosion of infrastructure and other metal structures such as railings and doorways; damage to vehicles; contamination of surface and groundwater; impacts to roadside vegetation; increased wildlife collision rates; and large amounts of product waste due to blowing or bouncing off roadways). Numerous alternatives were tested to see what could feasibly replace the overreliance on rock salt which at a high-level include: chloride deicers, acetate deicers, and agricultural by-products (organics). Read more about the benefits, drawbacks, cost estimates and lowest working temperature for a given deicing agent.

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Procurement-Guidance-Parking-Lot-Snow-and-Ice-Mgmt.pdf Procurement Guidance for Parking Lot Snow and Ice Management]<ref>STEP. 2019. Procurement Guidance for Parking Lot Snow and Ice Management. Version 2.0 https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Procurement-Guidance-Parking-Lot-Snow-and-Ice-Mgmt.pdf</ref>

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Procurement-Guidance-Parking-Lot-Snow-and-Ice-Mgmt.pdf Procurement Guidance for Parking Lot Snow and Ice Management]<ref>STEP. 2019. Procurement Guidance for Parking Lot Snow and Ice Management. Version 2.0 https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Procurement-Guidance-Parking-Lot-Snow-and-Ice-Mgmt.pdf</ref>

**STEP released a guidance document aimed at property owners, businesses and contractors to better understand their control over how much salt is applied through their snow and ice management contracts, and the diligence with which they manage and oversee these contracts. In this document, STEP describes various clauses and conditions that can be considered by these groups to be included in contracts to promote the responsible use of road salts.  A summary of the measures are provided in with estimates of the impact on salt use, and the potential influence these may have on contract costs.   

**STEP released a guidance document aimed at property owners, businesses and contractors to better understand their control over how much salt is applied through their snow and ice management contracts, and the diligence with which they manage and oversee these contracts. In this document, STEP describes various clauses and conditions that can be considered by these groups to be included in contracts to promote the responsible use of road salts.  A summary of the measures are provided in with estimates of the impact on salt use, and the potential influence these may have on contract costs.   

 

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Salt-application-best-practices-for-winter-maintenance-contracts-brochure.pdf Salt Application Best Practices for Winter Maintenance Contracts]<ref>STEP. 2019. Salt Application Best Practices for Winter Maintenance Contracts. Technical Brief. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Salt-application-best-practices-for-winter-maintenance-contracts-brochure.pdf</ref>

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Salt-application-best-practices-for-winter-maintenance-contracts-brochure.pdf Salt Application Best Practices for Winter Maintenance Contracts]<ref>STEP. 2019. Salt Application Best Practices for Winter Maintenance Contracts. Technical Brief. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Salt-application-best-practices-for-winter-maintenance-contracts-brochure.pdf</ref>

**STEP released a best practices document for winter maintenance contracts for private businesses to help reduce over-salting and ensuring that salt is applied responsibly on parking lots and walkways. The document highlights how an easy way to do this is by ensuring that businesses' snow and ice maintenance contract includes provisions requesting that industry best practices be employed and operators are adequately trained. Furthermore contracts should request evidence of knowledgeable contractor and property management staff, requiring training and certification through the [http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/training Ontario Smart about Salt Program].  

**STEP released a best practices document for winter maintenance contracts for private businesses to help reduce over-salting and ensuring that salt is applied responsibly on parking lots and walkways. The document highlights how an easy way to do this is by ensuring that businesses' snow and ice maintenance contract includes provisions requesting that industry best practices be employed and operators are adequately trained. Furthermore contracts should request evidence of knowledgeable contractor and property management staff, requiring training and certification through the [http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/training Ontario Smart about Salt Program].  

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Sand-vs-Salt-tech-brief.pdf LSRCA Technical Bulletin: Sand versus Salt] <ref>LSRCA. 2018. Sand versus Salt: Should sand be used for winter maintenance? Technical Bulletin, Volume 1 October 2018. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Sand-vs-Salt-tech-brief.pdf</ref>

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Sand-vs-Salt-tech-brief.pdf LSRCA Technical Bulletin: Sand versus Salt] <ref>LSRCA. 2018. Sand versus Salt: Should sand be used for winter maintenance? Technical Bulletin, Volume 1 October 2018. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Sand-vs-Salt-tech-brief.pdf</ref>

**CVC developed a technical brief exploring the efficacy of the use of sand for winter maintenance, its associated environmental issues, and where its use is most appropriate. Sand although a known and regularly used alternative in some jurisdictions, tends to have additional costs and limited effectiveness when compared to rock salt. To read about these costs, effectiveness concerns and additional environmental impacts click the link to the technical bulletin above.

**CVC developed a technical brief exploring the efficacy of the use of sand for winter maintenance, its associated environmental issues, and where its use is most appropriate. Sand although a known and regularly used alternative in some jurisdictions, tends to have additional costs and limited effectiveness when compared to rock salt. To read about these costs, effectiveness concerns and additional environmental impacts click the link to the technical bulletin above.

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2015/11/AlternativeSalt_TechBrief_Nov2015.pdf Evaluation of Organic Anti-icing Materials for Winter Maintenance]. <ref>STEP. 2015. Evaluation of Organic Anti-icing Materials for Winter Maintenance. Technical Brief. Salt Management. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2015/11/AlternativeSalt_TechBrief_Nov2015.pdf</ref>

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2015/11/AlternativeSalt_TechBrief_Nov2015.pdf Evaluation of Organic Anti-icing Materials for Winter Maintenance]. <ref>STEP. 2015. Evaluation of Organic Anti-icing Materials for Winter Maintenance. Technical Brief. Salt Management. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2015/11/AlternativeSalt_TechBrief_Nov2015.pdf</ref>

**This study compares the performance of liquid road salt (brine) to three types of organic/semi-organic alternatives applied on a university parking lot in Waterloo, Ontario. Products are evaluated as anti-icers (applied pre-snowfall) based on the coefficient of friction (CoF). The results indicate that in general, anti-icing treatments improved friction levels by 10-40% relative to a control without any application of anti-icers. Despite containing less chloride, the organic and semi-organic products performed as well as traditional sodium chloride brine at similar application rates. Although organic anti-icers contributed less chloride into receiving streams, they contain higher concentrations of nutrients and organic content, which may limit their applicability in some context. To read more about these salt alternatives click the link above.

**This study compares the performance of liquid road salt (brine) to three types of organic/semi-organic alternatives applied on a university parking lot in Waterloo, Ontario. Products are evaluated as anti-icers (applied pre-snowfall) based on the coefficient of friction (CoF). The results indicate that in general, anti-icing treatments improved friction levels by 10-40% relative to a control without any application of anti-icers. Despite containing less chloride, the organic and semi-organic products performed as well as traditional sodium chloride brine at similar application rates. Although organic anti-icers contributed less chloride into receiving streams, they contain higher concentrations of nutrients and organic content, which may limit their applicability in some context. To read more about these salt alternatives click the link above.

*[https://www.lsrca.on.ca/parking-lot-guidelines LSRCA's Parking Lot Design Guidelines​] <ref>LSRCA. n.d. Parking Lot Design Guidelines. Webpage. Accessed 25, Mar. 25. 2022. https://www.lsrca.on.ca/parking-lot-guidelines</ref>

*[https://www.lsrca.on.ca/parking-lot-guidelines LSRCA's Parking Lot Design Guidelines​] <ref>LSRCA. n.d. Parking Lot Design Guidelines. Webpage. Accessed 25, Mar. 25. 2022. https://www.lsrca.on.ca/parking-lot-guidelines</ref>

**LSRCA has created a landing page with their partners, which include three key documents:

**LSRCA has created a landing page with their partners, which include three key documents:

***[https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Parking-Lot-Design-Guidelines/Parking-Lot-Guidelines-Salt-Reduction.pdf Parking Lot design Guidelines - Full Report]: Written in partnership with GHD the Parking Lot Design Guidelines to Promote Salt reduction is the primary document LSRCA uses to provide background on the issue of over salting roads and parking lots, primary design features for owners and contractors to consider, case study and site examples where the guidelines have been followed and Drawings of these sites that can be found on the main Parking Lot Guideline landing page.

***[https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Parking-Lot-Design-Guidelines/Parking-Lot-Guidelines-Salt-Reduction.pdf Parking Lot design Guidelines - Full Report]: Written in partnership with GHD the Parking Lot Design Guidelines to Promote Salt reduction is the primary document LSRCA uses to provide background on the issue of over salting roads and parking lots, primary design features for owners and contractors to consider, case study and site examples where the guidelines have been followed and Drawings of these sites that can be found on the main Parking Lot Guideline landing page.

***[https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Parking-Lot-Design-Guidelines/Policy%20Templates.pdf Municipal Policy Template]: This template document aids municipalities in the drafting of their own parking lot design and salt reduction policy document based on the findings and design guidance from LSRCA's Parking Lot design Guidelines - Full Report, 2017.

***[https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Parking-Lot-Design-Guidelines/Policy%20Templates.pdf Municipal Policy Template]: This template document aids municipalities in the drafting of their own parking lot design and salt reduction policy document based on the findings and design guidance from LSRCA's Parking Lot design Guidelines - Full Report, 2017.

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2016/01/Salt-brochures-v11.pdf Salt Application Verified Equipment Program: Managing Risk While Saving Money]<ref>STEP. 2016. Salt Application Verified Equipment Program: Managing Risk While Saving Money. Brief. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2016/01/Salt-brochures-v11.pdf</ref>

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2016/01/Salt-brochures-v11.pdf Salt Application Verified Equipment Program: Managing Risk While Saving Money]<ref>STEP. 2016. Salt Application Verified Equipment Program: Managing Risk While Saving Money. Brief. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2016/01/Salt-brochures-v11.pdf</ref>

**The Salt Application Verified Equipment (SAVE) Program was developed to make the process of applying salt less subjective and encourage contractors providing snow and ice management services for parking lots and sidewalks to apply salt more efficiently. Through the program, salt spreading equipment is calibrated according to a standard test procedure, and contractors undertake in-field training to ensure familiarity with how to operate their equipment in a manner that achieves pre-determined target salt application rates. Equipment operators obtain annually renewable license and plate stickers to confirm that their equipment has been verified. The list of contractors with calibrated equipment is made available on-line for facility managers, property owners and property management companies to use in the procurement of snow and ice maintenance contracts for their properties. To learn more about the program click [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/home/urban-runoff-green-infrastructure/pollution-prevention/road-salt-management/salt-application-verified-equipment-save-program/#:~:text=The%20SAVE%20program%20was%20developed,to%20apply%20salt%20more%20efficiently Here]. And for further updates to the program's verification process visit [https://smartaboutsalt.com/Program-Verification SASC's page here].

**The Salt Application Verified Equipment (SAVE) Program was developed to make the process of applying salt less subjective and encourage contractors providing snow and ice management services for parking lots and sidewalks to apply salt more efficiently. Through the program, salt spreading equipment is calibrated according to a standard test procedure, and contractors undertake in-field training to ensure familiarity with how to operate their equipment in a manner that achieves pre-determined target salt application rates. Equipment operators obtain annually renewable license and plate stickers to confirm that their equipment has been verified. The list of contractors with calibrated equipment is made available on-line for facility managers, property owners and property management companies to use in the procurement of snow and ice maintenance contracts for their properties. To learn more about the program click [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/home/urban-runoff-green-infrastructure/pollution-prevention/road-salt-management/salt-application-verified-equipment-save-program/#:~:text=The%20SAVE%20program%20was%20developed,to%20apply%20salt%20more%20efficiently Here]. And for further updates to the program's verification process visit [https://smartaboutsalt.com/Program-Verification SASC's page here].

*[https://conservationontario.ca/fileadmin/pdf/conservation_authorities_section/SWP_Combined_SVA_Document.pdf Good Practices for Winter Maintenance in Salt Vulnerable Areas]. <ref>Conservation Ontario and Ontario Good Roads Assn. 2018. Good Practices for Winter Maintenance in Salt Vulnerable Areas. June, 2018. https://conservationontario.ca/fileadmin/pdf/conservation_authorities_section/SWP_Combined_SVA_Document.pdf</ref>.

*[https://conservationontario.ca/fileadmin/pdf/conservation_authorities_section/SWP_Combined_SVA_Document.pdf Good Practices for Winter Maintenance in Salt Vulnerable Areas]. <ref>Conservation Ontario and Ontario Good Roads Assn. 2018. Good Practices for Winter Maintenance in Salt Vulnerable Areas. June, 2018. https://conservationontario.ca/fileadmin/pdf/conservation_authorities_section/SWP_Combined_SVA_Document.pdf</ref>.

**This guidance is a living document to help address the impacts of road salt, within specific vulnerable areas, and will be reviewed every two years to remain current with technological and legislative changes. There are several types of ‘salt vulnerable areas’, with various environment and human health goals including drinking water quality, wetland health, and fisheries that are identified within the document. This guidance currently prioritizes certain areas where municipal drinking water sources are known to be impacted by road salt, know as, ‘Issue Contributing Areas’ (ICAs) delineated under the Clean Water Act (2006).  

**This guidance is a living document to help address the impacts of road salt, within specific vulnerable areas, and will be reviewed every two years to remain current with technological and legislative changes. There are several types of ‘salt vulnerable areas’, with various environment and human health goals including drinking water quality, wetland health, and fisheries that are identified within the document. This guidance currently prioritizes certain areas where municipal drinking water sources are known to be impacted by road salt, know as, ‘Issue Contributing Areas’ (ICAs) delineated under the Clean Water Act (2006).  

*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-tr1-10.pdf Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual]<ref>Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. 2015. Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual: Reducing Environmental Impacts of Chloride. Third Revision. p-tr1-10. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-tr1-10.pdf.</ref>

*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-tr1-10.pdf Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual]<ref>Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. 2015. Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual: Reducing Environmental Impacts of Chloride. Third Revision. p-tr1-10. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-tr1-10.pdf.</ref>

**The purpose of this manual By the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is to deliver practical advice to those managing parking lots and sidewalks and help make proactive, cost-effective, environmentally conscious choices in winter parking lot and sidewalk management in the State of Minnesota. This knowledge will provide the opportunity to become a leader in the industry by operating more efficiently and reducing environmental impacts. The manual is  based on the Minnesota Snow and Ice Control Field Handbook for Snowplow Operators, produced by the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program Center, and on the training materials for the MPCA's Winter Maintenance of Parking Lots and Sidewalks training class.  

**The purpose of this manual By the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is to deliver practical advice to those managing parking lots and sidewalks and help make proactive, cost-effective, environmentally conscious choices in winter parking lot and sidewalk management in the State of Minnesota. This knowledge will provide the opportunity to become a leader in the industry by operating more efficiently and reducing environmental impacts. The manual is  based on the Minnesota Snow and Ice Control Field Handbook for Snowplow Operators, produced by the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program Center, and on the training materials for the MPCA's Winter Maintenance of Parking Lots and Sidewalks training class.  

*[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331991752_A_review_of_the_species_community_and_ecosystem_impacts_of_road_salt_salinisation_in_fresh_waters A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters]. <ref>Hintz, W.D. and Relyea, R.A. 2019. A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters. Freshwater biology, 64(6), pp.1081-1097. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331991752_A_review_of_the_species_community_and_ecosystem_impacts_of_road_salt_salinisation_in_fresh_waters</ref>.

*[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331991752_A_review_of_the_species_community_and_ecosystem_impacts_of_road_salt_salinisation_in_fresh_waters A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters]. <ref>Hintz, W.D. and Relyea, R.A. 2019. A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters. Freshwater biology, 64(6), pp.1081-1097. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331991752_A_review_of_the_species_community_and_ecosystem_impacts_of_road_salt_salinisation_in_fresh_waters</ref>.

**This review study of the impacts of road salt on local ecosystems by Hintz and Relyea (2019), found that road salts negatively affect species at all trophic levels, from biofilms to fish species but the concentration of road salt where adverse effects were observed varied and the effects themselves ranged from reductions in fecundity, size and shape to alterations to nutrient and energy flow at an ecosystem level and increased greenhouse gas emissions from contaminated wetlands and altered hydrology and oxygen, nitrogen and carbon level dynamics in lakes and streams. concentration at which road salt triggered an effect varied considerably. To read mroe about their findings, click the link above.

**This review study of the impacts of road salt on local ecosystems by Hintz and Relyea (2019), found that road salts negatively affect species at all trophic levels, from biofilms to fish species but the concentration of road salt where adverse effects were observed varied and the effects themselves ranged from reductions in fecundity, size and shape to alterations to nutrient and energy flow at an ecosystem level and increased greenhouse gas emissions from contaminated wetlands and altered hydrology and oxygen, nitrogen and carbon level dynamics in lakes and streams. concentration at which road salt triggered an effect varied considerably. To read mroe about their findings, click the link above.

*[https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2022-01-17/coh-salt-management-plan2021.pdf Hamilton Salt Management Plan]<ref>City of Hamilton. 2021. 2021 Salt Management Plan. https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2022-01-17/coh-salt-management-plan2021.pdf</ref>.  

*[https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2022-01-17/coh-salt-management-plan2021.pdf Hamilton Salt Management Plan]<ref>City of Hamilton. 2021. 2021 Salt Management Plan. https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2022-01-17/coh-salt-management-plan2021.pdf</ref>.  

**The City of Hamilton's 2021 Salt Management Plan is intended to set out a policy and procedural framework for ensuring that the Municipality continuously improves the management of road salt used in its winter maintenance operations. The plan is dynamic and allows the City to phase in new approaches and technologies in a way that is responsive to fiscal demands and the need to ensure that roadway safety is not compromised. To read more about the City's finalized plan that compares it's current practices to BMPs, opportunities for improvement and achievement metrics which can be replicated fore other Ontario municipalities click the link above.

**The City of Hamilton's 2021 Salt Management Plan is intended to set out a policy and procedural framework for ensuring that the Municipality continuously improves the management of road salt used in its winter maintenance operations. The plan is dynamic and allows the City to phase in new approaches and technologies in a way that is responsive to fiscal demands and the need to ensure that roadway safety is not compromised. To read more about the City's finalized plan that compares it's current practices to BMPs, opportunities for improvement and achievement metrics which can be replicated fore other Ontario municipalities click the link above.

===Proprietary Systems===

===Proprietary Systems===

In our effort to make this guide as functional as possible, we have decided to include proprietary systems and links to manufacturers websites. Inclusion of such links does not constitute endorsement by the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program.

In our effort to make this guide as functional as possible, we have decided to include proprietary systems and links to manufacturers websites. Inclusion of such links does not constitute endorsement by the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program.