Ontario municipalities are facing a road salt shortage amid an ongoing deep freeze, prompting researchers at Western University to explore alternative methods for melting road ice. In a study initiated in 2022, researchers are investigating nine different substances to assess their effectiveness in melting road ice under various conditions. Christopher Power, an associate professor involved in the study, highlighted the dominant use of sodium chloride (rock salt) by municipalities due to its affordability and accessibility.
While rock salt effectively clears ice from roads by lowering water’s freezing temperature, it poses environmental challenges such as corrosion and salination of water bodies. The study aims to identify alternative ice-melting substances, including sodium acetate and beet juice, by evaluating their melting efficiency and corrosiveness levels. Despite ongoing research, no definitive replacement for rock salt has emerged, with economic factors and budget constraints influencing adoption decisions.
To address the current salt shortage, municipalities like the City of London are diversifying their road-clearing strategies by incorporating sand-salt mixtures and increasing plowing frequency. Joel Gillard, London’s division manager of road operations, emphasized the limitations of salt in extreme cold temperatures, leading to a shift towards alternative de-icing methods. This shift reflects a broader trend among municipalities towards targeted salt use and exploring environmentally sustainable road maintenance practices.