Ice Melt Science


DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup Newsletter

Congratulations to the National APWA Excellence in Snow & Ice Award Winner The Village of Buffalo Grove! The newsletter details what and how they achieved such an industry prestigious award. “After their annual review, the Village of Buffalo Grove Public Works Department revised their winter maintenance plan for 2014 – 2015 to achieve the highest… Read more »

Being Chloride Conscious On Small Sites

Even for small sites, over salting and inefficient maintenance can release chloride pollution in to the watershed you depend on for clean drinking water and a healthy ecosystem. This video highlights Winter Maintenance on small sites brought to you by: The University of Minnesota, Mississippi WMO, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

DANGEROUSLY SALTY FRESH WATER? IT IS HAPPENING.

There is no denying the urban sprawl in America is spreading. Researchers found startling data in freshwater lakes of the Northern United Sates. Too many chlorides in salt can do damage to many areas of life, from killing off plants and trees or stunting reproduction of beneficial animal to environmental catastrophes like Flint, Michigan. Researchers… Read more »

Application Rates Based On Temperature

Packaged ice melt generally has a “works to” temperature written on the bag. While bulk salt doesn’t have a label, anyone in the industry knows that bulk rock salt will melt to, at best, +5°F. Do you need the same amount of salt per area to melt ice at +25°F that you would for +5°F?… Read more »

Conversions, Measurements and More

1 Acre = 43,560 sq ft 1 Lane Mile = 63,360 sq ft 1 Lane Mile = 12ft x 5,280 ft 1 Cup of Rock Salt = 0.6 lbs 1 Ton = 2,000 lbs

How To Properly Store Your Salt Stockpile

By the time salt is spread on roads, it can already be millions of years old. Thankfully for motorists and snow removal companies, intact salt never loses its ability to melt ice, which means salt does not have to be used immediately. Salt that has been stored is just as effective as the salt that… Read more »