Transcript: Is Road Salt Destroying Ontario’s Waterways? | Apr 28, 2025 | TVO Today

Time-lapse footage shows snow melting and green shoots pushing through the wet ground. In a river, water gushes in rapids.

Jeyan Jeganathan narrates, AS THE SNOW MELTS AND THE EARTH WAKES UP, WINTER STARTS TO LET GO. SPRING IS HERE, FINALLY. RUNOFF FLOWS INTO RIVERS AND LAKES, BUT THESE WATERS THAT WE WELCOME CARRY SOMETHING WE CAN'T SEE. ROAD SALT.

[Footsteps crunching, vehicle engine rumbling, salt rattling]

Someone walks past a clump of undissolved road salt on a slushy sidewalk, a car drives on a snowy road, and someone wearing a bright safety vest drops salt on a bridge.

Jeyan narrates, CHEMICALLY KNOWN AS SODIUM CHLORIDE. IT WORKS BY LOWERING THE FREEZING POINT OF WATER, MAKING IT HARDER FOR ICE TO FORM. AND THIS PAST WINTER, A WINTER FULL OF STORMS, ICE WAS AN ISSUE FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS ONTARIO.

[Engines rumbling]

Snow falls on a busy highway.

On a Cp24.com newscast, text reads, “Wintry weather. Winter storm warning. A blonde-haired newscaster wears a green sweater.

The blonde-haired newscaster says, WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT STRETCHING FROM WINDSOR TO MONTREAL.

On a GlobalNews.ca, newscaster Anthony Robart says, BRUTAL ICE STORM LEFT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ONTARIANS IN THE DARK.

On CBC.ca, text reads, “Gravenhurst still digging out after storm, as fresh snow blankets cottage country.”

A black-haired newscaster says, UP IN MUSKOKA COME THE SAME SYSTEM IS BRINGING EVEN MORE SNOW...

Vehicles drive on a four-lane highway past a creek and a snowy forest.

Jeyan narrates, AND IT'S IN MUSKOKA WHERE ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM BELLS ON ROAD SALT.

A car drives beneath the town sign for Gravenhurst. A driver with short white hair wears a brown sweater.

The white-haired driver says, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE COMING DOWN TO MUSKOKA BAY, GRAVENHURST BAY, AND THERE'S A CREEK RUNNING INTO THE BAY HERE THAT I'VE BEEN SAMPLING FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

[Water gurgling, clunking, footsteps crunching]

Water bubbles in the creek. In a parking lot, the white-haired driver, Neil, takes a sampling pole with a cup at the end and small bottles out of the back of the car. A sign beside a boardwalk reads, “Caution! Boardwalk is slippery when wet or icy.”

Jeyan narrates, NEIL HUTCHINSON HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO WATER QUALITY. AFTER WORKING AS AN AQUATIC SCIENTIST ACROSS CANADA, HE'S NOW RETIRED AND PART OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED, A GROUP FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING THREATS TO MUSKOKA'S WATERWAYS.

Text reads, “Neil Hutchinson. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”

Neil says, FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, WE BECAME QUITE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF ROAD SALT AND THE CHLORIDE ION, WHICH IS A TOXIC COMPONENT OF ROAD SALT, IN OUR RUNOFF OFF OUR ROADS INTO OUR VERY SOFT WATERS.

[Clicking, vehicle engines humming]

Photographs show salt-stained sidewalks and a trail of undissolved salt. Text reads, “Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”

Jeyan narrates, MANY ONTARIANS ARE FAMILIAR WITH IMAGES LIKE THIS. THESE PHOTOS WERE CAPTURED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED. THEY HIGHLIGHT THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ROAD SALT USED OVER THE WINTER.

A man wearing eyeglasses walks on a sidewalk with a woman with curly white hair and a woman with short white hair. They look at a pile of dirty snow.

Neil says, THERE'S A MESS. THAT'S GOING TO END UP IN THE RIVER.

The short-haired woman says, I WONDER HOW MUCH SALT IS IN THAT.

Jeyan narrates, THE DOCUMENTATION IS PART OF A STUDY NEIL AND A TEAM OF CITIZEN SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING TO SEE HOW MUCH OF THIS ROAD SALT IS DRAINING INTO MUSKOKA'S WATERSHED.

[Creek gurgling, birds chirping]

Neil collects a water sample using the pole. The curly-haired woman, Joanne Smith, stands on the boardwalk. Text reads, “Citizen Scientist.”

Joanne says, WHAT WE DO IS COLLECT A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER STARTING WHEN THE MELT STARTS. WHICH IS RIGHT NOW. WE GET ACCESS TO THE SNOW AND SALT WHICH IS COMING OFF OF THE SIDEWALKS, COMING OUT OF THE PARKING LOTS, COMING OFF OF THE ROADS.

By the creek, Neil says, ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO KNOW THE CONCENTRATION OF CHLORIDE. CHLORIDE IS TOXIC. IT'S DECLARED TOXIC AS IS ROAD SALT, BUT WE MEASURE IT QUITE SIMPLY WITH A LITTLE PEN THAT YOU CAN STICK IN THE WATER AND IT IMMEDIATELY READS THE CONDUCTIVITY.

On the sidewalk, Joanne puts a conductivity meter into a water sample held by the short-haired woman.

Joanne says, SO HERE'S THE CONDUCTIVITY METER. THAT'S VERY, VERY HIGH. 730. IT'S STILL GOING UP. CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN WE HAVE IN THE LAKE.

By the creek, Neil says, CONDUCTIVITY IS THE ABILITY OF THE WATER TO CARRY AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND THE MORE IONS THAT ARE DISSOLVED IN THE WATER, THE HIGHER THE CONDUCTIVITY, THE BETTER ABLE IT IS TO CONDUCT ELECTRICITY. SUCH THAT DISTILLED WATER WOULD HAVE NO CONDUCTIVITY, WHEREAS SEAWATER HAS SOMETHING LIKE 50,000 UNITS OF CONDUCTIVITY.

[Water gurgling]

The short-haired woman, Sandy Cairns, holds the water sample. Text reads, “Citizen Scientist.”

Sandy says, THIS WHOLE AREA OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD HAS 5 DIFFERENT DRAINAGE AREAS THAT COME DOWN. THEY ALL GO INTO GULL LAKE, SO THERE'S NO FILTRATION OR ANYTHING.

[Water gurgling]

Sandy stops and lowers a tube into a sewer grate. Water flows beneath a bridge.

Jeyan narrates, OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS, CITIZEN SCIENTISTS LIKE SANDY CAIRNS AND JOANNE SMITH HAVE CONDUCTED OVER 600 MEASUREMENTS AT 27 SITES IN GRAVENHURST, BRACEBRIDGE AND HUNTSVILLE. THEY TESTED DRAINS AND CREEKS YEAR-ROUND THAT FLOW INTO LARGE BODIES OF WATER LIKE LAKE MUSKOKA, GULL LAKE AND JEVONS LAKE. ACCORDING TO THE DATA, THE WORST SALT CONCENTRATIONS CAME FROM FOUR STORM DRAINS IN BRACEBRIDGE. THE FINDINGS ONLY CONFIRMED WHAT NEIL AND HIS TEAM ALREADY KNEW. SALT IS SILENTLY SATURATING MUSKOKA'S WATERS. THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED ESTIMATE THAT LAKE MUSKOKA NOW HOLDS AROUND 30,000 TONS OF ROAD SALT. AND IT'S NOT JUST IN COTTAGE COUNTRY, MANY TORONTO AREA STREAMS ARE GETTING SALTIER.

[Engines humming, whirring, rattling]

A quote reads, “Many Toronto-area streams are getting saltier, and road salt is mostly to blame, conservation experts suggest.” “By Andre Neary and Farrah Merali, February twenty-fourth, 2025.” On a street, a truck spreads road salt.

Jeyan narrates, ACROSS ONTARIO ABOUT 2.2 MILLION TONS OF ROAD SALT ARE SPREAD ON PUBLIC ROADS EVERY YEAR.

Text reads, “Neil Hutchinson. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”

By the creek, Neil says, IN 2001, ENVIRONMENT CANADA DECLARED ROAD SALT TO BE A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, AND THAT REQUIRED THE GOVERNMENT TO SET WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR IT AND TO START PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW IT'S MANAGED. GRAVENHURST BAY HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT 30- OR 35-FOLD IN CHLORIDE CONCENTRATIONS OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS. SO, THAT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF RUNOFF FROM OUR ACTIVITIES OF SPREADING ROAD SALT AROUND IN THE WATERSHED.

[Water gushing, quacking]

Rapids flow beneath a branch. In a lake, birds surface from beneath the water.

Jeyan narrates, THE CANADIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT HAS SET GUIDELINES FOR HOW MUCH SALT FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS CAN HANDLE BEFORE IT STARTS HARMING AQUATIC LIFE. BUT THOSE GUIDELINES MIGHT NOT WORK EVERYWHERE.

Text reads, “Joanne Smith. Citizen Scientist.”

On the boardwalk, Joanne says, THE GUIDELINES, WHICH WERE ACTUALLY DETERMINED NEAR TORONTO BACK IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS CAME IN AT A LEVEL OF 120 MILLIGRAMS PER LITRE.

[Water gushing]

Rapids form in a river.

Joanne continues, BUT WE ARE FAR MORE SENSITIVE UP HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF BEDROCK, WHICH IS GRANITE. AND IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE BEDROCK, WHICH IS DOWN NEAR TORONTO, WHICH IS LIMESTONE. AND THE LIMESTONE BREAKS DOWN, SO IT'S KIND OF BUFFERING THE SOLUTION. WHEREAS UP HERE IN MUSKOKA, WE'VE GOT THE GRANITE WHICH IS RATHER INERT. SO, THE ZOOPLANKTON ARE THE ONES WHICH ARE VERY, VERY FRAGILE. AND WE'RE FINDING THAT THEY ARE DYING AT A MUCH FASTER PACE THAN THEY ARE DOWN IN THE G.T.A., WHERE WE'VE GOT THE HARD WATER.

[Footsteps crunching, door creaking, squeaking]

Zooplankton swim in a water sample. In Muskoka, someone walks up a path and opens a door.

Jeyan narrates, THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED HAVE GAINED A NEW TOOL IN THEIR EFFORTS TO COMBAT EXCESSIVE ROAD SALT USE.

A store employee says, HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

A woman wearing a toque, Alesha, says, HI, I'M ALESHA.

[Background chattering, thunking]

Alesha puts a clipboard on a counter and shakes hands with the employee.

Jeyan narrates, ALESHA BRECKENRIDGE IS THE PROJECT LEAD FOR THE SALTY MUSKOKA PROJECT.

[Background chattering, tapping]

In the store, Alesha says, WE ARE STARTING A NEW PROGRAM TO HELP EVERYBODY IN MUSKOKA REDUCE THEIR EXCESS ROAD SALT.

[Vehicle engine humming]

Beside a road, large piles of dirty snow are higher than a car window.

Jeyan narrates, THANKS TO A FEDERAL GRANT FROM THE CANADIAN WATER AGENCY, THEY NOW HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. ITS ESTIMATED ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF ROAD SALT USE IN MUSKOKA IS APPLIED IN PARKING LOTS, DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.

Text reads, “Alesha Breckenbridge. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”

On a sidewalk, Alesha says, I'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY IN REDUCING SALT USE IN THOSE SITES. SO THAT MEANS TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, TALKING TO SMALL BUSINESSES, AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH WINTER MAINTENANCE CONTRACTORS AND ALSO WITH STORE OWNERS THAT CAN ACTUALLY BRING IN SOME ALTERNATIVES AND COLLECTIVELY JUST RAISE THE AWARENESS OF REDUCING SALT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[Background chattering]

Someone leaves the store, and Alesha greets them on the path.

Jeyan narrates, ONE OF THE BIGGEST MESSAGES SHE'S TRYING TO SPREAD ABOUT ROAD SALT IS THAT A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY.

Alesha holds a bright green cup.

Alesha says, THIS CUP HOLDS 12 OUNCES OF ROAD SALT, BUT I'M JUST USING SAND JUST TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS CUP WILL COVER THIS ENTIRE SPACE.

[Rustling]

Alesha shakes the sand over a sidewalk beside the store. Video footage shows vehicles driving in snowstorms.

Jeyan narrates, ROAD SALT IS A POPULAR CHOICE BECAUSE IT'S CHEAP AND IT WORKS. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ITS USE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE WINTER-RELATED CAR CRASHES, BUT IT HAS ITS LIMITATIONS.

Alesha says, I THINK WE ASSUME THAT IT'S GOING TO WORK IN ALL TEMPERATURES, AND IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T. SO, ROAD SALT, THE EFFECTIVENESS STARTS TO WEAR OFF AFTER LIKE MINUS 10, MINUS 12. ROAD SALT DOESN'T WORK ON ICE ANYMORE. SO, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MAYBE USING SAND AS TRACTION INSTEAD.

On the boardwalk, someone holds a leash with a small, shaggy dog.

Jeyan narrates, IT CAN CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS AND IS HIGHLY CORROSIVE TO BUILDINGS.

Alesha says, I HEARD JUST THE OTHER DAY THAT SOMEBODY SAID, OUR SLIDING DOORS ARE SO RUSTY, AND IT'S CAUSING, AND THEY'RE PUTTING IT DOWN TO ROAD SALT, AND IT IS. IT'S ACTUALLY A CORROSIVE, AND SO IT'S DAMAGING A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND BUILDINGS.

The sign for the Algo Centre Mall in Elliott Lake features a Dollarama sign. Nearby, two storeys of the mall have collapsed.

Jeyan narrates, IN 2012, TWO PEOPLE DIED AND MANY MORE WERE INJURED WHEN THE ROOFTOP PARKING DECK OF THE ALGO CENTRE MALL IN ELLIOTT LAKE CAVED IN. CORROSION CAUSED BY YEARS OF WATER AND ROAD SALT WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

A C.B.C. headline reads, “Corrosion by water, road salt key in Ontario mall collapse.” Another C.B.C. headline reads, “Rusted steel supports in Elliot Lake mall collapse looked like they had spent decades in seawater: forensic study.”

Jeyan continues, A FORENSIC STUDY FOUND THE RUSTED STEEL SUPPORTS LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD SPENT DECADES IN SEAWATER.

[Water gushing]

Neil kneels on the snowy shore of the creek and collects a water sample.

Jeyan continues, THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED DID GET A WIN EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA PASSED A RESOLUTION TO SAFELY REDUCE ITS ROAD SALT USE AND PUSHED THE PROVINCE TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO ADVISE CITIES AND TOWNS ON HOW BEST TO PROTECT FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS FROM SALT. BUT CHANGING POLICY IS JUST ONE PART OF THE PUZZLE. LIABILITY IS ANOTHER MAJOR CHALLENGE.

[Rattling, engines humming]

In a parking lot, someone pushes a small salt spreader. Neil stands by the creek. Text reads, “Neil Hutchinson. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”

Neil says, IF I SLIP AND BREAK MY HIP, THEN I MIGHT SUE THE STORE OWNER, WHO WILL THEN HAVE TO SUE HIS MAINTENANCE PERSON BECAUSE I SLIPPED BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH SALT WAS APPLIED. WELL, THERE ARE VARIOUS, SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS, SOME IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT HAVE GOT A PROGRAM WHERE THESE APPLICATORS CERTIFY THEMSELVES AS SMART ABOUT SALT. SO, IF THEY CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY'VE TAKEN THE COURSE AND HAVE NOT OVERAPPLIED THE SALT, THEN THEY ARE IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION FOR LIABILITY.

[Engine humming]

A snowplow drives over a bridge.

Neil says, SO, WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH OTHER GROUPS AND GET THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE LIABILITY CLAUSES AND HOW WE MIGHT MAKE SURE, IT'S DONE PROPERLY AND STILL INSULATE PEOPLE FROM CLAIMS.

[Gentle music plays, water gushing]

Water gushes beneath the bridge. In town, the man wearing eyeglasses helps Sandy up a steep snowbank. She carries the sampling pole.

Jeyan narrates, ACCORDING TO THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED, THE PATH TO REDUCING ROAD SALT USE AND PROTECTING THE FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM SO VITAL TO MUSKOKA AND THE REST OF CANADA IS CLEAR. IT STARTS WITH STRONGER POLICIES, BETTER TRAINING AND RAISING AWARENESS.

[Background chattering]

In the store, Alesha gives the employee the bright green cup. Text reads, “Alesha Breckenbridge. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”

On the sidewalk, Alesha says, I OFTEN GET OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT FACE US TODAY. BUT ROAD SALT IS ONE ISSUE THAT IS EASILY REMEDIED. AND WE CAN REDUCE OUR USE.

Text reads, “Neil Hutchinson. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”

By the creek, Neil says, WE CAN TAKE ACTION TO GET RID OF POLLUTANTS AND BE EFFECTIVE AND MAINTAIN THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD AROUND US. SO, TO ME, IT'S A MATTER OF THE LAND THAT WE LIVE IN, OUR OBLIGATION NOT TO HARM IT, TO TREAD LIGHTLY AND TO ENJOY IT FOR ALL THAT IT OFFERS.

[Water flowing]

Foam forms on the creek.

End credits. Producer: Jeyan Jeganathan.

Episode: Is Road Salt Destroying Ontario’s Waterways?

SLC road salt bid includes slight increase in price for 2025-26 despite tariffs - North Country Now

CANTON -- Rock salt ran low during a harsh winter, forcing county officials to cut off contractors from the waning supply when stocks ran dangerously low.

Though tariffs were expected to greatly impact future bids, Highway Superintendent Don Chambers said the low bid came in at a far better rate than expected.

Compass Materials, based in Canada, was the low bidder at $73.73 per ton. Chambers said the shipments will come through the Port of Ogdensburg and be trucked to county facilities as well as municipalities.

"This will make it much easier to utilize the commodity to ensure roadways are safe this winter," he said.

Compared to the low bid last year, entered by American Rock Salt, Chambers said the rate increased slightly from $67.56 per ton.

"It ebbs and flows from year to year," he said.

In 2023-24, the low bid was $74.66 per ton, while 2022-23 came in at $70.27 per ton and 2021-22 came in at $65.61 per ton.

Chambers said one benefit of working with Compass Materials is the steady supply chain, commenting that on at least eight occasions the county has worked with the firm "with no issues."

When asked by Legislator Glenn Webster if domestic companies had bid, Chambers confirmed a number had but in many cases the bids came in significantly higher.

American Rock Salt bid $89.91 per ton, while Cargill bid $76.59 per ton, Morton Salt bid $88.55 per ton and Appalachia Salt bid $105 per ton, Chambers said.

The price received from Compass was also confirmed to be the final price, including tariff costs.

"At this point the bid is the price they're supplying it at," Chambers confirmed.

He commented on legislation, passed last year at the state level, that largely limited the suppliers counties could purchase from, forcing the government entities to purchase New York or domestic salt.

Chambers said that had a negative impact on the county as rates were higher and municipalities were forced to truck the salt from the Buffalo region in some cases.

He previously said that greatly increased costs for the salt as stores ran low locally.

"American Rock Salt had a contract that complied with state bid requirements at the time, which favored New York or domestic salt producers," Chambers said.

Chambers also said he would likely bring forth a resolution in the near future to modify the Highway Department budget for $30,000 related to salt supplies that were transferred from the Highway Department to municipalities throughout the state.

"We're very fortunate to have great inter municipal cooperation," Chambers said.

'It will kill life': Cambridge councillor urging city to curb road salt use | CBC News

A Cambridge councillor is hoping to reduce the amount of road salt used by the city, saying overuse could contaminate groundwater and "kill life."

"I mean if you add enough salt to anything, it will kill life," Ward 7 Coun. Scott Hamilton said. 

He is speaking in front of city council on Tuesday to present a notice of motion that urges the city of Cambridge – and ultimately the province of Ontario – to tackle the problem of road salt.

This comes a week after Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe presented a similar notice of motion during a regional council meeting. 

Hamilton said the "spirit of this motion is to ask the province," as they have the jurisdictional authority to do significant change. 

Hamilton says Cambridge uses 5,856 tons of salt per year. With salt registered as a "toxic substance" under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, he said there is inherent danger in its overuse. 

Several studies support Hamilton's claim.

Ottawa Riverkeeper, a non-profit based in Ottawa that advocates for sustainable use of the Ottawa River, found in a study they published in January that among water samples taken from streams across the National Capital Region, "the vast majority were toxic to wildlife due to road salt levels."

The five-year study, which started in the winter of 2019-2020, found that only 10 per cent of 500 water samples had safe levels of chloride. Chloride is a "key component" of road salt, the report explained. 

In a separate study, Taryn Smit, an ecologist volunteering with the Canadian Conservation Corps, explained that too much salt can make living organisms "become sick or die." 

"Think about if you have not had enough water and now you're starting to get headaches, feel sick and dehydrated." she explained. "The same kind of process will happen with anything that lives in the stream of the river because there's salt in the water."

Hamilton said this is why he hopes to see changes on the provincial level. 

"Whether you're in Galt, Preston, Hespeler, Blair, you're affected all the same by the quality of our drinking water," he said.

Last Tuesday, Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe presented a notice of motion at regional council that also deals with salt pollution. 

Joe Salemi, the executive director of Landscape Ontario, was one of the delegates who spoke to council about the motion. 

Salemi urged the Ontario governmet to develop limited liability legislation, create and fund an expert stakeholder advisory committee, and send the resolution to all municipalities. 

At that meeting, North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton expressed concern about the limited liability legislation.

"When you waive the right to lay the liability on someone, you're giving up your rights," Foxton said. "You're also allowing people to be negligent." 

Hamilton said he hopes Cambridge will support his motion in May when he outlines similar steps to deal with the over salting problem in that city and the province as a whole.

Similar to McCabe's motion, Hamilton will bring up the development of a limited liability legislation, a public awareness campaign about best salt practices, the creation of an "expert stakeholder advisory committee" that would advise the province about the best courses of action, and a review of bylaws to support further reductions in salt use.

Hamilton says he hopes the public will see his motion in a positive light, explaining that his motion is meant to be "ultimately for our own benefit."

"If we have toxic drinking water, if levels of sodium chloride in our water are at unhealthy levels and it's at the point where it's killing off our ecosystems, our plants, in our lakes and our rivers, I think ultimately this [plan] is definitely a net positive," he explained.

"The majority of the public would understand that."

Hamilton is scheduled to present his notice of motion at Tuesday's city council meeting. The council will then deliberate on the motion on May 27, after which a decision will be made.

Council motion urges Ontario to tackle groundwater contamination from road salt - CambridgeToday.ca

'We can't salt away our problems:' says Cambridge councillor Scott Hamilton, whose motion pushes for an Ontario-wide change to liability legislation within the snow and ice removal industry and public awareness to reduce road salt use.

A reduction in road salt can have a tangible impact on the quality of groundwater, but a Cambridge city councillor said it’s going to require changes at the provincial level to make that a reality. 

Scott Hamilton is bringing forward a motion that will be introduced at Tuesday’s council meeting, with a decision expected later this month, calling on the province to take action on road salt pollution.

It asks for the province to develop legislation to avoid excessive slip-and-fall lawsuits, create an awareness campaign for the public on best practices around salt use, create a stakeholder committee to advise on the impact of salt pollution and for the City of Cambridge to review bylaws related to snow removal for further salt reduction. 

In a phone interview, Hamilton acknowledged the reality of needing to make sure cars can go where they need to during winter and people can’t be slipping on sidewalks. 

However, Hamilton noted road salt doesn't simply disappear after its use. 

“It stays in the environment, it just melts,” Hamilton said. “It goes into our soil, it goes into our aquifers and that ends up in our drinking water.”

In an email, a City of Cambridge spokesperson said, based on the past four years, the city uses an average of about 5,856 tonnes of road salt per year. 

Based on Region of Waterloo water quality reports, wells tested in Cambridge regularly surpass a 20 mg/L Health Canada chloride threshold for notifying public health and doctors.

A University of Waterloo study by the Water Institute found implementing best management practices around road salt use can improve groundwater quality.

Similar motions have been introduced in other municipalities, first in Muskoka and recently at a Region of Waterloo committee meeting. 

This call for change is being led partially by Landscape Ontario, a trades association with a snow and ice management sector, and being supported by the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition. 

Claire Malcolmson, executive director of Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition which is part of the OSPC, spoke during delegations at the recent regional committee meeting.

In a phone call she explained a lot of contractors in the snow and ice management sector protect themselves from liability by over-applying road salt. 

“Those guys are having a really hard time because the potential for them to be sued by slip and fall lawsuits is pretty high,” Malcolmson said. “They know that they’re using too much salt but they don’t see that they have any alternative.”

A solution proposed in the motion asks the province to develop limited liability legislation and a set of provincially-endorsed best practices for snow and ice management. 

Hamilton explained that means if you’re a contractor who goes through proper certification and adheres to standard practices including putting down an appropriate amount of salt, you won’t be liable if someone slips. 

Malcolmson said the province uses at least 2.2 million tonnes of salt per year and that is likely to grow due to population growth and urban sprawl expanding the road network. 

“We’re trying to make sure members of the public understand this is one of many costs of sprawl and unsubstantiated new highway builds — highways are chloride hotspots,” she said, noting in her area near Lake Simcoe, the Mascana River has seen increased chloride levels since Highway 404 was built. 

Hamilton noted that municipal pressure to build more housing leads to more roads being constructed. As such, he considers the public awareness component of the motion to be crucial.

He added the city does a good job of reducing the amount of salt used by forgoing some areas such as a parking lot for a soccer field which people aren’t accessing during the winter months.

“We have to remember that we are in Canada and we’re going to have some pretty intense winters, so not every roadway will be as accessible as we want it to be,” he said. “We can’t salt away our problems everywhere, every time. We have to be very careful and cautious as Canadians about how we carry ourselves in winter.”

The full council motion can be read here.

Waterloo spearheading motion on over using road salt

Spring is well underway around Ontario, allowing the Region of Waterloo the opportunity to look back at the winter season and find places where it can improve maintenance operations.

Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe is hoping the region can become leaders in the fight against pollution caused by road salt, bringing forward a motion that would urge the province to hold polluters accountable.

According to Claire Malcolmson of the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition, road salt pollution could lead to the loss of clean drinking water in some parts of the province.

“In Ontario, we are growing the road network enormously, or that’s what the current government would like to do. That is absolutely going to add more salt to the environment, so we have to get ahead of this or we will have huge, expensive problems to deal with down the road,” said Malcolmson at a committee meeting on Tuesday.

McCabe’s motion would urge the provincial government to create enforceable training and standards for contractors who currently oversalt roadways and walkways to avoid slips, falls, and subsequent lawsuits. Through her motion, she would also be pushing the province to create an advisory committee focused on protecting freshwater ecosystems and drinking water from the effects of salt pollution.

According to Malcolmson, Ontario is responsible for nearly half of the 5 million tonnes of road salt applied across Canada.

Also at the Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee meeting on Tuesday, Councillor Matt Rodrigues introduced a motion that would have staff review winter maintenance operations in preparation for another snowy winter next season.

The winter season that just passed was one of the snowiest Waterloo Region has experienced in the 21st century, with nearly 200 cm of snowfall by the end of February.

Through review, Rodrigues is hoping the region can identify where they can improve winter maintenance programs and policies ahead of the 2026 budgeting process.

Both motions will come before regional council.

Is Road Salt Destroying Ontario’s Waterways? | TVO Today

Every winter, Ontarians rely on road salt to keep streets safe — but where does all that salt go when the snow melts? Jeyan Jeganathan explores how excess salt is silently polluting lakes and rivers across the province and talks to the people working to protect our fragile freshwater ecosystems.

Road Salt Pollution: Local and State-Wide Advocacy - Morning Ag Clips

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The graph below, from a study in New Hampshire, shows where the chloride loads from road salt pollution come from in a watershed that is similar to many in Pennsylvania. The largest source, about 50%, is from parking lots, mainly serviced by private contractors who are currently not subject to any regulation. The next biggest sector is municipal roads, with 27%. State roads contribute 9%, salt piles 7%, and the rest is from smaller sources like private roads, water softeners, food waste, and atmospheric deposition (road salt dust).

Figure 1. Chloride loads measured in Policy – Porcupine New Hampshire watershed region (Burak, et al., 2008)

Best Management Practices

Case studies performed in Minnesota and Wisconsin have demonstrated that by implementing the best management practices listed below, it is possible for municipalities and private contractors to significantly reduce road salt usage and save tens of thousands of dollars in materials and labor costs.

Training of Staff

All road maintenance staff should receive regular training about proper road salt storage, application, environmental impacts, and equipment maintenance. Any training program should emphasize the importance of using as little material as is necessary to make roads safe. This includes road salt storage, application, environmental impacts, and maintenance of equipment.  Any training program should emphasize the importance of using as little material as is necessary to make roads safe.

Brining Before the Storm

Brine is a 23% solution of salt and water that can be mixed up locally. If sprayed on road surfaces ahead of a snow event, it prevents the snow from bonding to the pavement, making it easier to plow the road clean later. Road salt may still need to be applied, but the quantities will be much smaller. Switching to brining can reduce salt usage by 75%.

Brined Street, City of Allentown (Photo: Jennifer Latzgo)

Pre-wetting dry salt

Pre-wetting road salt with brine as it is applied enables the salt to stick better to the road surface, resulting in a 30%  reduction in salt use. It also provides faster activation, making it more effective at melting snow and ice.

Calibrating Spreaders

Regular calibration of salt truck spreaders can reduce salt usage by 50%.  Calibration should be done annually and any time a change is made to the material or equipment.

Use of Live-Edge Plows

Live-edge plows have a flexible, segmented edge that maximizes ground contact. They provide a cleaner scrape on uneven surfaces, meaning less salt is needed and the blades last longer. They can also allow the use of a wider plow, which means that fewer passes are needed to clear roads.

Use of Automated Spreader Controls

Automated spreader controls allow salt truck operators to program the salt application rate according to road speed. This ensures a more even spread and reduces the amount of bounce and scatter. Automated spreader controls allow salt truck operators to program the rate of salt application according to road speed. This ensures a more even spread and reduces the amount of bounce and scatter.

Covered Salt Storage

Salt piles should be covered to prevent salt loss and pollution throughout the year. Smaller piles can be covered with weighted tarps, and large piles should be kept in roofed structures with stormwater management measures in place.

Use of Road Condition Information Systems

A road condition information system is a network of road sensors, weather sensors, and other technology that collects real-time information about road conditions. They help maintenance crews strategically time road salt applications to achieve ice and snow melt with less salt.

Evaluation of Performance

After each winter maintenance event, staff should evaluate performance and analyze any data to determine effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments to future practices.

Maintenance of Equipment

Equipment needs to be rinsed off after usage to prevent corrosion. This rinsing needs to be done in a way that contains salt-contaminated wastewater, which can then be used for pre-wetting brine.

Pennsylvania Road Salt Action

Many people around the state have worked on the issue of road salt pollution locally, but so far, there has been no coordinated state-wide effort to allow the sharing of expertise and resources. So, in January 2025, the Pennsylvania Road Salt Action working group was formed to bring this about. The group includes representatives from numerous organizations and groups and has the following initial goals:

• Develop protocols and strategies for talking to municipalities and large landowners about adopting road salt best management practices.
• Create a website with materials and resources that can be used for education and advocacy.
• Encourage PennDOT to promote their training program for municipalities and emphasize road salt reduction.
• Many private contractors and the property owners who hire them are concerned about liability for slips and falls resulting from the over-application of deicers. We plan to educate decision-makers about the benefits of having a program like the Green Snow Pro program in New Hampshire, where there is limited liability for contractors who take an approved training program that emphasizes best management practices for deicer application and how to keep appropriate records.
• Work with providers to create a state-wide training program for private contractors.
• Find sources of grant money for equipment upgrades and assistance to municipalities.

As the project moves forward, other goals may be added to this list.

We are developing a network of partners along with the working group. These are organizations like watershed groups, conservation organizations, and individuals who are concerned about road salt pollution in their area and want to take action locally. They will be able to use the resources on the Working Group’s website and then share their successes and challenges so that others might benefit from their experiences.

If you or your organization is interested in being involved with this project, please complete this Google Form, and we will be in touch.

References

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. (2019). Road salt: The problem, the solution, and how to get there [report].

Wisconsin Transportation Information Center. (n.d.). Wisconsin Transportation Bulletin No. 22: Pre-Wetting and Anti-Icing – Techniques for Winter Maintenance. Pre-Wetting and Anti-Icing Techniques for Winter Road Maintenance.

Witlum, M. (n.d.). 5 steps to a winter liquids program. Wisconsin Salt Wise.

Spectrum Equipment. (n.d.). How the west is adopting eastern snow removal methods.

Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). How does the road weather information system work?. FHWA Road Weather Management – How Does the Road Weather Information System Work?

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (n.d.). Success stories: Salt reduction and cost saving examples success stories: Salt Reduction and cost saving examples. Success stories: salt reduction and cost saving examples – Minnesota Stormwater Manual.

Madison, A. (2021, February 12). Saltwise Municipal Champions. Municipal champions.

Waterloo motion urges province to help reduce salting in the winter

The City of Waterloo is calling on the provincial government to protect freshwater sources and habitats by developing legislation that governs and regulates the use of road salt.

A motion put forward by Coun. Julie Wright, at a council meeting on Monday, alleges that snow removal and maintenance contractors often overuse salt when clearing roadways and walkways, leading to increased salt runoff into freshwater habitats.

The contractors may overuse salt to prevent slips and falls, which could lead to costly injury claims and lawsuits, it notes.

“The people who are working in winter control also care about the environment, but the risk and liability issues are preventing them from acting in a more environmentally progressive way,” said Wright.

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Wright’s motion urges the provincial government to create enforceable contractor training and provincially endorsed standard best management practices to help small businesses make the right decisions about salt.

“It is an all of society solution that’s required,” said Wright. “It’s gonna take some technological innovation, it’s going to require more research, there might be future alternatives to salt, and better training is one of these factors that is going to open up a pathway.”

The motion was passed unanimously, with Wright adding that it’s just a first step in a province-wide campaign on this issue.

Cleanup of Calgary's streets starts April 14 | CBC News

After months of dumping salt and sand material to fend off harsh winter driving conditions, the time has come for the city to start sweeping the streets. 

Crews will roll out on Monday, April 14, for the annual spring cleanup.

Street sweeping will continue weekdays from 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. until about June 20, depending on the weather, to tidy up more than 17,000 lane-kilometres of roadway around the city. 

Calgarians should watch in their neighbourhoods for "No Parking" signs, which will be in place at least 12 hours before sweeping crews show up.

"The sweeping program [is] very much a collaborative effort," said Chris Hewitt, manager for mobility maintenance at the City of Calgary. "We just ask that people keep those cars off the road, please, so we can do the job and do it nicely."

Any cars found violating the parking rules will be mailed a $80-$120 ticket from Calgary Parking. 

Last year, the city's parking authority issued more than 27,000 tickets for street sweeping violations. 

"The majority of the areas we enforce, it's just a straight ticket," said Charles Gray, patrol and investigations supervisor with Calgary Parking.

"There are some very high dense areas, especially in the core, where we do have to short tow vehicles to get them out of the way for sweepers. But over 90 per cent of our sweeps don't involve towing."

'No Parking' signs will be in place at least 12 hours before street cleaning crews arrive, according to the City of Calgary. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)

The city is also asking residents to make sure obstructions like non-standard driveway ramps, basketball hoops and bins are off the road when sweeping vehicles show up.

Calgarians planning to leave their cars in alleyways on sweeping day should make sure they're parked at least five metres away from the alley entrance to avoid a ticket. 

Residents can plan ahead by using the city's online address search tool to see their scheduled street sweeping date. 

Street sweeping prevents air and water pollution

The program typically collects about 50,000 tons of material, which is either recycled for use in future winters or used as fill in the landfills, according to Hewitt.

Over the winter, city crews dropped around 40,000 tons of "pickle" onto Calgary's roads — less of the salt-gravel mixture than what is typically needed.

"We didn't have quite as much cold and snow this year. We did have that cold spell in February, but outside of that we were able to conserve this year," said Hewitt.

The street sweeping program keeps that material from running off into Calgary's waterways and cuts down on air pollution. 

Street sweeping will not occur on statutory holidays but will go ahead on federal election day, April 28.

N.B. mine reports record sales of road salt after long, harsh winter | Watch News Videos Online