Amid provincial concerns about road salt shortages, the Township of Champlain, the Township of East Hawkesbury, and the Township of North Glengarry are actively reducing salt usage while ensuring roads remain safe for the remainder of winter operations.
Champlain Communication and Community Development Officer Shanna Steals confirmed that the township is reducing its salt consumption in response to the ongoing, industry-wide shortage. She said, “The township has proactively decreased overall road salt usage by approximately 50 per cent; however, it continues to be applied within the village areas where storm sewer systems are present.”
Steals added, “We do this to prevent excessive sand accumulation that could result in blockages and related maintenance issues. In rural areas outside of the villages, a sand mixture is being used as a road salt alternative.”
In East Hawkesbury, Road Superintendent Jean-François Santerre explained that the township’s goal is to “use the least amount of salt possible to save taxpayers money and help the environment. Proper plowing and spreading techniques, good equipment, time management, and timing make a big difference in how the salt will work to remove road hazards.”
Santerre said, “We ordered approximately 1,500 tons of salt at the beginning of the season, which is our annual average. Currently, we still have more than 450 tons in the storage shed and more than enough peastone—a mixture of small stone mixed with anti-icing agents and salt—to finish the winter season. We do not plan on ordering any more salt this year.”
“Mother Nature helps quite a bit around this time of year,” Santerre added, saying, “the sun is getting stronger, and we are taking advantage of it by applying the salt just before sunrise.”
North Glengarry Director of Public Works Timothy Wright said that the township has been actively monitoring usage and does not have any concerns regarding its salt levels for the remainder of the winter season: “Our salt is at typical levels for this time of year, and we have enough to get us through our winter operations.”
