About Deicer Agents Common Myths of Winter Effective Snow never use a product without reading the label Maintenance and Ice Removal instructions. Be familiar with both the ingredients and its application instructions. There are many products on the market, pick the one that meets Myth: Salt application is safe for our for Homeowners your needs best. Below is a break down of some environment. chemicals you might find useful in your winter maintenance routine: Fact: Everything in moderation. In fact, too Chemical Lowest practical temperature much salt can cause chloride Sodium Chloride (NaCl): 15°F contamination of our ground delivered as solid rock salt; water. very corrosive, inexpensive The truth is, chloride (salt) contamination has Magnesium Chloride -10°F been on a rise in the Illinois River since the onset (MgCl): delivered as flakes, of salt application in the 1960’s. Too much salt pellets, or liquid; corrosive, application can kill plants and healthy soil higher cost bacteria. Storm runoff carrying excess salt goes Calcium Chloride (CaCl): -20°F directly to our creeks, streams and rivers and delivered as flakes, pellets becomes part of the water cycle and eventually or liquid; powerful deicer finds its way to our groundwater resources. but extremely corrosive, Chloride contamination can be harmful to our utilizes exothermic reaction ecology as well as our drinking water. and radiates off heat and can perform at lower Myth: Applying salt will “burn off” temperatures, higher cost snow and ice making it easier to shovel Calcium Magnesium 20°F and clear away. Acetate (CMA): delivered as powder, crystals, pellets Fact: Salt application is only or liquid; non-corrosive, effective during certain non-chloride and biodegradable, higher cost temperature and weather Beet Juice: delivered in -20°F conditions. liquid form; biodegradable In fact, most salt loses its ability to melt ice at salt alternative, pavement temperatures of 15°F or below. Salt non-corrosive, higher cost application is meant to prevent ice from bonding with the pavement and is not meant to be used This is not an exhaustive list of ingredients. once the ice has formed. This brochure will instruct you on effective methods for safe snow and ice removal.

J:\ENVIR Reviewed 09/03/2013 Before the Storm After the Storm More Information This is the ideal time to apply salt to your driveway now is the best time to act quickly and remove any Access to fresh water is a luxury, and while and sidewalks. If the pavement has any snow accumulated snow before it compacts and/or chlorides are not the only contamination threat —it accumulation, shovel, snow blow, or sweep off freezes. If possible, avoid driving over snow is a growing concern. North Farm Creek Watershed before any salt or de-icing application (see After the covered driveways so as to avoid compaction. There in Tazewell County has shown elevated levels of Storm). Dry salt tends to scatter or blow away, so are multiple tools on the market to remove snow: chloride contamination. High levels of chlorides are do not apply dry salt in windy conditions. Do not Shovels can push snow and/or scoop it dangerous for sensitive fresh water species such as apply prior to rainfall when it will wash away to up and dump it away from walkways bluegill. Chlorides in public and private drinking storm drains. and drives. water wells would translate to costly desalination Magnesium Chloride (MgCl) and Calcium Chloride treatments! We need to prescribe or our roads, (CaCl) products will work at lower temperatures parking lots and sidewalks a low sodium diet! Be Root cutters and picks can be used to informed! This pamphlet is only a beginner’s guide. than Sodium Chloride (NaCl) products (Caution: break up compacted snow and ice for If you would like more information regarding how see Pet Safety). NaCl is not effective at ease of removal. temperatures of 15°F or below. MgCl is effective to protect our waters from chloride contamination, down to -10°F, and CaCl is effective down to -20°F. check out the following websites and videos: Regardless of product choice, the amount of salt Brooms work great at removing light Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (video): needed to prevent ice from forming a bond to the dustings of snow, as well as removing pavement is the same—no more than 4lbs of salt per residual sand or salt left over after the http://youtu.be/qc8Y-_Nmfmo 1000 sq. feet (approximately 1 full 12 oz. coffee storm The County of Dupage Storm Water Management: mug of salt weighs 1 pound). More salt does not Sweep up any residual sand/salt mixture placed on http://www.dupageco.org/EDP/Stormwater_Managem equal more melting! Know the size of the area you the drive and walkways. You may even save this ent/Water_Quality/1193/ plan to treat to best measure the effective amount of mixture for future reuse. Store your salt deicer salt to use. Read product labels carefully before use. agents in sealed moisture proof containers. Accuweather (Information on pet safety): Practice “just enough” application. Too  Fresh water can be contaminated from http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/ice- melt-can-injury-dogs-1/59512 much salt will cause excess runoff into storm over-salting. As little as 1 tablespoon of salt to drains. This runoff will go untreated to our 5 gallons of water can impair fresh drinking rivers and streams, in addition to causing salt water for both humans and fresh water species. burn to grass and soil in your own lawn. Contracted Snow Removal Services Pet Safety During the Storm If you use a contracted snow removal service ask, Remember your four legged loved ones when them if they have attended the Heart of Illinois As long as the temperature remains above 15°F, choosing a deicing agent. Read product ingredient Winter Maintenance Workshop. Read about our most pre applied salt applications will remain labels carefully. Many CaCl and MgCl agents can be success with this program in the 2012 February issue effective at preventing snow and ice from bonding harmful to pets paws and skin. A glycol based of Roads and Bridges magazine at this link: with pavement. Only those applications of MgCl and product would be more pet friendly than typical http://www.roadsbridges.com/winter- CaCl will be effective below 15°F and will only commercial agents on the market. Remember to maintenance-engrained-mind work if temperatures are above -20°F. Reapply salt wash and wipe paws after being outside, this will as needed, but remember to clear the pavement of reduce the exposure time if they have been in areas Encourage your service provider to attend the HOI accumulated snow and ice first to be most effective! with typical deicer agents. Always store chemicals in Winter Maintenance Workshop. For more If temperatures drop below -20°F, consider using sealed and properly labeled containers, away from information on the workshop, use our contact sand for added traction. Just remember to sweep both child and pet access. information below: sand up after the storm so sand does not accumulate Tazewell County Health  in storm drains. Additional alternatives that are also more department environmentally friendly include deicers 21306 Il Rt 9 In winter conditions, reduce your speed and Tremont, IL 61568 derived from beet juice. 309-925-5511 ext 272 drive safely. Limit travel when possible.