Province urged to address 'rising threat' of road salt pollution - Orillia News

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) is calling on the Ontario government to take common-sense, pro-business action to address the rising threat of chloride pollution in local rivers and streams, which has increased by more than 300 per cent in parts of the watershed since the 1970s.

In a formal letter sent this week to the Hon. Todd McCarthy, minister of the environment, conservation and parks, NVCA board chair Jonathan Scott asked the province to introduce limited-liability protections for certified snow and ice contractors who follow best practices, and to strike a provincial advisory committee to guide long-term salt-reduction strategies.

“Local municipalities and conservation authorities have made significant investments in salt reduction,” said chair Scott. “For instance, my own municipality of Bradford West Gwillimbury is investing over $2 million in a snow filtration facility to help remove contaminants before they enter our watershed. Nonetheless, we continue to see rising chloride levels, especially from private properties, due to fears around liability and a lack of consistent standards, which leads to oversalting parking lots. We need the province to step in and provide pro-business reforms to help solve this problem.”

Excessive road salt in winter maintenance has become one of the fastest-growing pollutants in Ontario’s urban watersheds. When salt dissolves, it breaks down into chloride, which can accumulate in groundwater, harm aquatic ecosystems and increase corrosion in infrastructure. In the Nottawasaga watershed, without a change to reduce road salt use, these elevated levels will exceed federal water quality guidelines, and pose serious risks to aquatic ecosystems, drinking and agricultural water sources, and long-term watershed health.

At its most recent meeting, the NVCA board unanimously passed a resolution highlighting this growing concern and encouraging a provincial response with a limited-liability framework.

“Salt reduction isn’t about compromising safety; it’s about smarter, more affordable, pro-business practices,” said Scott. “Other jurisdictions like New Hampshire have proven that you can protect both the public and the environment, with their limited-liability approach reducing salt pollution by as much as 40 per cent. Ontario can lead the way, too.”

NVCA is committed to working collaboratively with the province, municipalities, industry, and environmental partners to develop effective, evidence-based solutions that protect watershed health.

Save wildlife, contractors from winter salt woes: Councillor | Toronto Sun

Dianne Saxe has a request for Toronto: Go easy on the salt. 

This week, Saxe’s colleagues on city council will consider a proposal from City Hall’s infrastructure and environment committee that urges the province to legislate “best management practices for snow and ice” and to limit liability in slip-and-fall lawsuits.

The proposal also calls on City Hall “to continue to minimize the use of road salt as much as possible while maintaining safety on roads, parking lots and sidewalks.”

It comes mere months after councillors debated the sorry state of snow removal in Toronto. In February, Mayor Olivia Chow said the state of removal operations after a long weekend snowstorm had been “just totally unacceptable.”

Saxe’s work was instrumental to the item on council’s agenda. Saxe, now the councillor for University-Rosedale ward, had previously urged the province to take the salt pollution issue seriously as Ontario’s environment commissioner.

Saxe told the Toronto Sun this proposal isn’t about the road salt that keeps people safe – it’s about “clear waste,” the “heaps of salt” that hit Toronto’s streets each winter.

“This isn’t about people not being able to get around,” Saxe said. “This is about someone slips and falls, they sue everybody, whether or not the contractor behaved reasonably.”

The City of Toronto already has a salt management plan and a web page with a list of tips to minimize use in winter. City hall recommends Torontonians “shovel first” before applying salt, and consider using sand as a traction aid. The federal government, meanwhile, has a set of practices for the use of road salt, finalized in 2004.

Saxe said despite those guidelines, there is a need for more. The municipal plan only applies to City Hall’s own operations, and solving the liability issue is “the province’s job,” she said.

It’s understandable that the companies err on the side of not getting sued – they’re often family businesses that are too small to survive a lawsuit, Saxe said.

“Once somebody gets sued, it doesn’t matter whether they were right or not, it’s going to cost them an awful lot of money, and lawyers are eye-wateringly expensive,” she said.

Saxe said despite Torontonians’ broad concerns about road and sidewalk safety in winter, she expects council to pass the proposal without any fuss. She noted a letter to council from the trade association Landscape Ontario as evidence that what she’s proposing is necessary — and not controversial.

The contractors “want to be doing a good job, they know what they’re doing is very harmful and they’re asking for a standard and protection if they follow it,” Saxe said.

The item before council says salt pollution causes “irreversible” damage to the environment and accelerates the decay of Toronto’s infrastructure. Saxe emphasized the harm to fish in Toronto’s waterways, and warned it’s only getting worse because the effects of salt pollution are “cumulative.”

The snow may melt away, but all that salt has to go somewhere – and much of it becomes part of the environment.

Another letter to council from an advocacy group, the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition, says 12 municipalities in the province have passed similar motions this year, including Cambridge, Sudbury, Waterloo and the District of Muskoka.

Top-5 Salt Exporting Countries in the World in 2025, Know About Them

The Netherlands is the top salt exporting country in the world in 2025, with around 1.9 million tonnes of salt exports. The country has advanced infrastructure and easy access to sea routes. Know about the top-5 salt exporting countries in the world in 2025.

Salt is an important mineral used in cooking, food processing and many industries. It is also used to melt ice on roads in cold countries. Many nations produce salt, but only a few lead in exporting it to the world. These top countries export large amounts of salt every year and play a big role in meeting the global salt demand for both food and industrial use.

Salt Production in the World

Global salt production reached about 270 million metric tons. China was the top producer, making about 53 million metric tons of salt alone.

Top-5 Salt Exporting Countries in the World in 2025

Salt is an important mineral used in cooking, industries and even for keeping roads safe in winter. Many countries produce and export salt to meet global demand.

Here are the top-5 salt exporting countries in the world in 2025:

• Netherlands
• Germany
• India
• Canada
• Chile

Netherlands

The Netherlands is the top salt exporting country in the world in 2025, with around 1.9 million tonnes of salt exports. The country has advanced infrastructure and easy access to sea routes, which help in exporting large amounts of salt to many countries across Europe and the world.

Germany

Germany ranks second in salt exports, with about 1.7 million tonnes in 2025. The country has strong mining industries and a good transport network. German salt is mainly used for industrial purposes, road de-icing and in the chemical sector across Europe and beyond.

India

India is the third-largest salt exporter in the world in 2025, also exporting nearly 1.7 million tonnes. The salt is mostly produced in coastal states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. India exports salt to many countries, especially in Asia and Africa, due to its affordable pricing and large supply.

Canada

Canada is in fourth place, exporting about 1.6 million tonnes of salt in 2025. Most of Canada’s salt comes from large underground mines. It is mainly used in winter for road safety and also in industries. Canada exports salt mostly to the United States and other nearby countries.

Chile

Chile stands fifth in the world in salt exports with 1.5 million tonnes in 2025. It benefits from natural salt flats and a dry climate, which helps in large-scale production. Chile exports salt to countries in South America, North America and Asia, mainly for industrial and food purposes.

How limiting liability can help save Lake Simcoe from salt pollution - Bradford News

Bradford is hoping to prevent mounds of salt from creating a slippery slope to environmental decline.

Following council’s approval June 3 of the green initiatives advisory committee’s recommendation from their May 21 meeting, the town is urging the provincial government to adopt legislation that limits liability for certified snow and ice contractors in the hopes of reducing over salting and its impacts on the environment.

Council passed the recommendation without discussion, but Ward 2 Coun. and committee chair Jonathan Scott previously explained to BradfordToday that the committee is hoping to build upon success promoting salt management with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA), by advocating for Ontario’s attorney general to update liability standards around claims for injuries.

“We basically make it so private-property owners or parking lot owners feel they need to over salt to prevent slip and falls, when the LSRCA and others have said you don’t actually need to put that much salt down,” he said.

Using New Hampshire as an example, the motion claims a liability limiting framework can reduce salt use by as much as 40 per cent without compromising public safety and goes on to say the idea has broad support across municipalities, environmental groups and the winter maintenance industry, as proposed by the Ontario Road Salt Coalition and Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition.

“It’s giving people permission to say ‘don’t worry about the liability risk.’ As long as you’re following our best practices, you don’t need to coat the entire GO train parking lot in salt,” Scott said.

The motion explains private road salt usage continues to rise, despite years of guidance and consultation efforts from the LSRCA.

That’s an issue since road salt is considered a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act due to its long-term harm to ecosystems, infrastructure and drinking water sources.

The LSRCA estimates about 100,000 tonnes of salt are applied to paved surfaces in the Lake Simcoe watershed each year and much of that ends up flowing into creeks and rivers before making its way into the lake.

The LSRCA’s 2023 watershed report card shows that from 1971 to 2021 the chloride concentration in the watershed increased at a fairly constant rate of .7 milligrams per litre per year, and in that time, rose from about 10 to roughly 60 mg/L, about half way to the long-term exposure threshold of 120 mg/L.

This all comes as the town is set to invest $2.9 million in a snow filtration facility intended to help reduce contaminants from winter road maintenance.

Based on the motion, the town is also supporting the creation of a provincial advisory committee — including municipal, industry, commercial property owners, insurance industry and environmental representatives — to guide salt reduction strategies and protect Ontario’s freshwater resources.

The motion is planned to be shared with all Simcoe County municipalities; the LSRCA; Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority; Conservation Ontario; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario; the Ontario Road Salt Coalition; local MPPs; Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy; Attorney General Doug Downey; and Premier Doug Ford.

Japan’s Genius Snow-Clearing Method Melts Ice Before It Even Appears— Why the U.S. and Canada Still Haven’t Adopted It!

A quiet city in Japan has been using a surprising method to keep roads snow-free for decades. No salt, no plows—just a clever solution hiding in plain sight. North America isn’t using it, and the reason might surprise you.

Japan’s Ingenious Snow Removal Method. Credit: Jason L. Gatewood - copyright Shutterstock

In the city of Nagaoka, tucked into Japan’s snow-prone Niigata Prefecture, a decades-old snow removal technique continues to draw attention—not because it’s flashy, but because it works. While much of the Northern Hemisphere relies on heavy plows and endless truckloads of salt, Japan has quietly refined a far less disruptive method, one that is both low-tech and surprisingly efficient.

The system, known locally as shosetsu, uses warm water to melt snow directly on the streets. Small sprinklers embedded in the pavement or mounted along roadside barriers activate during snowfall, sending out steady streams that keep roads wet but ice-free. The goal is not to clear away snow after it’s fallen, but to prevent it from settling and freezing in the first place.

A Method Rooted in Hot Water and Geography

The first of these systems was installed in the 1960s in Nagaoka, a city that receives some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan. There, the snowfall can exceed 10 feet during peak winter months, making traditional methods costly and time-consuming. The sprinklers tap into local geothermal sources—namely, Japan’s widespread hot springs—which offer a reliable supply of naturally heated water.

.

Diagram of the sewage heat snow-melting system. Credit: Public Relations office of Japan

This geothermal advantage is central to the system’s appeal. The warm water flows directly into the streets, reducing reliance on energy-intensive heating or chemical treatments. And unlike road salt, which corrodes infrastructure and pollutes waterways, the water leaves no lasting damage.

The system has since expanded across various parts of Japan, particularly in the northern regions and the mountainous interior. In towns with consistent snowfall, these sprinklers have become part of the winter landscape, quietly operating underfoot.

Credit: JapaneseNostalgicCar

Why It Hasn’t Crossed the Pacific

The United States and Canada, despite facing similar snow conditions in places like Minnesota and Ontario, have made little effort to adopt anything resembling Japan’s model. One of the biggest obstacles is geography. While Japan’s terrain is dotted with hot springs, the same cannot be said for much of North America. Access to naturally heated groundwater is rare outside of specific pockets, such as the western U.S. and parts of British Columbia.

Other countries have tried variations. China, for instance, has experimented with similar systems powered by heat pumps. But as noted in the original report, those setups are “expensive and difficult to maintain,” making them less practical for large-scale use. The economic and technical barriers remain high, particularly for municipalities already struggling with aging infrastructure.

Still, the Japanese example underscores a broader point: alternatives exist. For cities where snowfall is both frequent and disruptive, looking beyond plows and salt trucks could offer long-term savings—not to mention safer, cleaner streets. Whether North America takes note remains to be seen.

Road salt bad for Sudbury's lakes; province needs to act | Sudbury Star

With winter salt (commonly referred to as road salt and containing sodium chloride) levels rising to a “toxic” range in some of Greater Sudbury’s urban lakes, it is commendable that city council is urging cross-sectoral action on this multifaceted environmental, public health and economic issue.

Led by Coun. Deb McIntosh, on May 13, council unanimously passed a motion that urges the Province of Ontario to create and fund an expert stakeholder advisory committee to advise the province and municipalities on the best courses of action to protect freshwater ecosystems and drinking water from the impacts of winter road salt pollution and to develop liability legislation, enforce contractor training and establish standardized best management practices for the snow and ice management sector.

Greater Sudbury, justly called The City of Lakes, can take pride as an early champion in joining the District of Muskoka, Georgina, Waterloo, the Township of Malahide and North Perth as the sixth municipal government to pass this resolution.

Winter salt is visible in the winter months on roads, parking lots, sidewalks and driveways, but its real damage is done when it dissolves and then runs off into creeks, rivers and lakes, with the risk along the way of causing infrastructure corrosion.

Winter salt containing inorganic chloride salts is classified as “toxic” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life 2011 has set an upper limit for chloride to protect aquatic life.

However, of the 31 Sudbury lakes sampled by the Lake Water Quality Program in 2024, 10 are approaching the guideline limit, with one large urban lake having exceeded it. Too much chloride disrupts the freshwater ecosystem and contributes to the cascade of events that can lead to harmful algal blooms and sensitive species fish kills.

Sodium from winter salt entering the city’s drinking water supplies can be a concern to those on sodium-restricted diets. Public Health Sudbury and Districts reports 15 water supplies with sodium levels above 20 mg/L to inform those on sodium-restricted diets. A notable reported water supply is the Sudbury Drinking Water System, David Street, with a sodium level of 54.1 mg/L.

The infrastructure damage from winter salt spans from the personal cost related to stained shoes and carpets and rusting cars to an estimated economic (including road and infrastructure) and environmental cost of $700 to $4,000 per tonne applied.

The city applies approximately 10,000 to 30,000 tonnes of winter salt a year. To balance winter road safety and the environment, city continues to assess for means to reduce winter salt use by participating in Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts, regularly updating its Salt Management Plan and in 2023 converting 73 lane kilometres of roads from salt to sand application.

So why would city council urge Ontario to take the actions stated in the resolution on winter road salt? A significant proportion of winter salt is applied to private and commercial parking lots outside of any regulatory framework. Snow and ice maintenance contractors, an essential and valued sector that keeps parking lots and private roads safe during winter, face slip and fall claims, higher insurance premiums or the inability to obtain insurance, leading some to either overuse winter salt or leave the business.

Landscape Ontario, an organization representing many private contractors, is also in discussions with Ontario to address these concerns.

And here is where citizens can amplify the message to the province about the need to act on salt pollution. The Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition is a group of private citizens and environmental organizations supporting the discussions and resolutions put forward by professional groups and municipalities on legislative reform and the creation of a regulatory framework to create safe conditions for all Ontarians while respecting the natural environment.

Remember, the harm done by visible winter salt is silently at work now in the City of Lakes. Interested groups and members of the public are invited to learn more at saltcoalition.ca,

Richard Witham, chair

Mandy Hey, director

Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance

Barrie's topography can be challenging when managing road salt - Barrie News

The balance between safe surfaces and road salt management is being found in Barrie.

A recent presentation on the city’s salt management strategy, at infrastructure and community investment committee, showed less is more on a number of levels. 

“Over the past decade, the average salt application rate has steadily declined,” said Craig Morton, the city’s senior manager of roads and fleet operations.

In the 2023-24 winter season, for example, the city’s road operations department reduced salt use by 51 per cent compared to the previous five-year average.

This reduction equates to approximately 6,100 tonnes of salt saved, resulting in $400,000 in savings, based on the current salt pricing, Morton said.

“During the winter, this is always a hot topic in terms of the amount of salt that the city uses,” said Coun. Bryn Hamilton, committee chairwoman. 

The city has a long list of factors when it comes to using salt to keep surfaces safe.

Included are 1,670 lane kilometres of road, 688 kilometres of sidewalks, 452 kilometres of storm pipes and 28 kilometres of storm culverts.

Barrie’s terrain involves five weather zones, freeze-thaw conditions, a 2.9-metre annual average snow accumulation, an average of 80 winter events and Highway 400.

Katie Thompson, the city’s manager of environmental risk management and compliance, waste management and environmental sustainability, said Barrie’s geography is also a challenge.

“Highway 400 runs through our city,” she said. “Once salt is applied, it can move around in both our ground and surface water resources.

“The terrain or topography of our city can be thought of as a bowl,” Thompson said. “We have uplands and lowlands connected by creeks that drain water down toward Kempenfelt Bay.”

Barrie has 14 deep underground water supply wells and one surface water intake on Kempenfelt Bay for its drinking water.

Thompson said Environment and Climate Change Canada has released a report stating road salts are entering our environment and posing a risk to our plants, animals and water. Once it’s applied it continues to move through the environment. It’s very soluble and hard to remove.

Morton said there are three guiding documents — the winter operations plan, the salt management plan and the salt optimization strategy — that work together to optimize the use of road salt in Barrie.  

They identify key measures that are effective in reducing salt use, he said.

“Due to the impracticality of maintaining all roads simultaneously, a structured priority system ensures efficient resource (snow and salt truck) deployment,” Morton said. “We have different road classifications to help guide us for that.”

He said priority routes are arterial and collector roads with high traffic volumes, bus routes and hills that are maintained to bare pavement, using plowing and de-icing.

Secondary routes are high-traffic roads, including the remaining transit routes, school-adjacent streets and steep grades — maintained again to bare pavement.

Residential routes found in subdivisions are maintained to snow-pack condition, using plowing and a sand/salt mix for traction.

“Plowing is the most environmentally effective method for snow removal,” Morton said. “It minimizes the need for salt.”

City road weather information stations cover all five of Barrie’s distinct weather zones.

“This infrastructure allows staff to make timely, data-driven decisions, resulting in more efficient operations in optimum use of materials and staffing,” he said.

Street sweeping each spring also helps with road salt left from the previous winter.

The city continues to invest in optimizing the use of road salt to protect public safety, while minimizing the environmental impacts related to its storage, handling and application.

This approach to managing road salt use also explores new technology and practices in winter maintenance to reduce the amount of road salt entering the environment, while ensuring safety is not compromised.

Sudbury city council asks Ontario government for help cracking down on winter salt use | CBC News

Sudbury city council has voted unanimously to ask the province to take steps to help reduce the amount of salt spread on private properties every winter.

Coun. Deb McIntosh, who introduced the motion, said many businesses in the city use more salt than they need on their parking lots, driveways and walking paths.

"They're concerned, rightly so, of slips and falls and because they get sued and their insurance rates go up," she said.

"So they overcompensate."

In her motion, McIntosh proposed the province develop limited liability legislation so businesses are protected from lawsuits as long as they meet a minimum standard for salt usage.

She also suggested that the province introduce enforceable contractor training for managing snow and ice removal, along with standards for best practices to cut back on salt.

"There's no regulation on how much salt you can or cannot use on a private property," she said.

Ramsey Lake is the main source of Sudbury's drinking water. (Yvon Theriault/Radio-Canada)

McIntosh said that's a problem because winter salt dissolves over time and ends up in local waterways where it can be harmful to the environment and make its way into drinking water.

Ontario has an aesthetic objective for chloride in drinking water of 250 milligrams per litre. That means that chloride, or salt, concentrations in drinking water should not exceed 250 milligrams per litre to ensure "good taste and prevent corrosion in the distribution system."

Testing under the city's Lake Water Quality Program done in the spring of 2024 found that chloride levels in Ramsey Lake, the main source of Sudbury's drinking water, was under that threshold at 82.4 milligrams per litre.

Of the lakes the city tested, Lake Nepahwin had the highest levels at 166 milligrams per litre.

McIntosh said the city has taken its own precautions to cut back winter salt by only applying it to busier arterial roads, such as the Kingsway.

For residential streets, city contractors use sand with a small amount of salt added to prevent it from clumping. 

Richard Witham, chair of the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance, said he supports McIntosh's motion.

"I think it's a really positive step and it's something that the Ontario government needs to implement and it needs to be done at a provincial level because they're the only ones who can basically make this move forward," he said.

Witham said high chlorine levels in local lakes from winter salt is harmful to aquatic life, and especially zooplankton called daphnia that eat algae. That could increase the risk of blue-green algae blooms, which produce toxins that are harmful to people and animals.

Witham said it would be a "win-win" for the province to address winter salt use and introduce limited liability for businesses and contractors.

"It's a win for the environmental organizations and it's a win for Landscape Ontario, which represents the contractors who remove ice and snow because they are also pushing for this," he said.

CBC News contacted Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks about winter salt use in the province and steps taken to protect freshwater, but did not receive a response by deadline. 

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.