With winter quickly approaching and the first snow under our belt, it’s a good time to thing about snow removal and how snow and ice can impact groundwater.
When we think of pollution traveling into drains and streams, we often think of rain events. But snow eventually turns into traveling water too! The same waste management and chemical containment strategies apply all time of year for businesses and individuals.
Specific contaminants in winter include salt for de-icing, other de-icing chemicals. Other road chemicals can be transported in snow as they are plowed such as oil, heavy metals and trash.
How can we remove snow and ice while lessening the chemicals that go into our groundwater? Taking strategies to prevent the need for deicing chemicals is one approach. A concept to keep in mind is to keep snow off pavement and on the ground where it has a better opportunity to seep into the ground and work with nature’s filtration.
- Shovel snow into your yard rather than driveway
- Shovel early to reduce the need for salt
- Keep piled snow away from storm drains
- Follow deicing product instructions and allow time for the product to work
- Sweep up and dispose of extra salt
Both businesses and individuals can help protect our groundwater this winter. Snow may get in our way, but protecting our drinking water protects everyone in our community.
