Changes

[[File:Bypass bioretention.png|thumb|250px|Example of a bypass in use to limit runoff from entering into a [[bioretention]] cell BMP. (Photo Source: TRCA, 2021)]]

[[File:Bypass bioretention.png|thumb|250px|Example of a bypass in use to limit runoff from entering into a [[bioretention]] cell BMP. (Photo Source: TRCA, 2021)]]

Since salt is not removed by traditional best practices, reducing application rates to only what is needed to achieve pavement safety requirements is the best means of managing impacts of salt on the environment and infrastructure. Pavement friction testing has shown that salting beyond the required amount does not translate into improved safety: [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2021/05/Friction-and-Parking-Lots.pdf LSRCA's Technical Bulletin: Alternatives to Salt].<ref name="example9">LSRCA. 2020. Friction and Parking Lots. Technical Bulletin, Volume 3 September 2020. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2021/05/Friction-and-Parking-Lots.pdf</ref>

Since salt is not removed by traditional best practices, reducing application rates to only what is needed to achieve pavement safety requirements is the best means of managing impacts of salt on the environment and infrastructure. Pavement friction testing has shown that salting beyond the required amount does not translate into improved safety: [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2021/05/Friction-and-Parking-Lots.pdf LSRCA's Technical Bulletin: Friction and Parking Lots].<ref name="example9">LSRCA. 2020. Friction and Parking Lots. Technical Bulletin, Volume 3 September 2020. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2021/05/Friction-and-Parking-Lots.pdf</ref>

A review of salt management best practices for parking lots, private drives and walkways is provided by [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2022/04/Snow-and-Ice-Control-BMPs-for-Parking-lots-and-Sidewalks.pdf STEP (2022)]<ref name="example6">Van Seters, T. 2022. Review of Snow and Ice Control Practices on Parking Lots and Walkways. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program. Ontario. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2022/04/Snow-and-Ice-Control-BMPs-for-Parking-lots-and-Sidewalks.pdf</ref>. The Transportation Association of Canada's (TAC), [https://www.tac-atc.ca/sites/tac-atc.ca/files/site/doc/resources/roadsalt-1.pdf Synthesis of Salt Management Best Practices]<ref>Transportation Association of Canada (TAC). 2013. Syntheses of Best Practices Road Salt Management. April 2013. https://www.tac-atc.ca/sites/tac-atc.ca/files/site/doc/resources/roadsalt-1.pdf</ref> and [https://clearroads.org/research-by-topic/ Clear Roads research]<ref>Clear Roads. 2022. Research by Topic. Accessed - May 16 2022: https://clearroads.org/research-by-topic/</ref>and  provides best practice resources more relevant to municipalities and road authorities. The following sections outline what property owners/managers and winter maintenance professionals can do to avoid excess salting.   

A review of salt management best practices for parking lots, private drives and walkways is provided by [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2022/04/Snow-and-Ice-Control-BMPs-for-Parking-lots-and-Sidewalks.pdf STEP (2022)]<ref name="example6">Van Seters, T. 2022. Review of Snow and Ice Control Practices on Parking Lots and Walkways. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program. Ontario. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2022/04/Snow-and-Ice-Control-BMPs-for-Parking-lots-and-Sidewalks.pdf</ref>. The Transportation Association of Canada's (TAC), [https://www.tac-atc.ca/sites/tac-atc.ca/files/site/doc/resources/roadsalt-1.pdf Synthesis of Salt Management Best Practices]<ref>Transportation Association of Canada (TAC). 2013. Syntheses of Best Practices Road Salt Management. April 2013. https://www.tac-atc.ca/sites/tac-atc.ca/files/site/doc/resources/roadsalt-1.pdf</ref> and [https://clearroads.org/research-by-topic/ Clear Roads research]<ref>Clear Roads. 2022. Research by Topic. Accessed - May 16 2022: https://clearroads.org/research-by-topic/</ref>and  provides best practice resources more relevant to municipalities and road authorities. The following sections outline what property owners/managers and winter maintenance professionals can do to avoid excess salting.   

====Site Assessment and Planning====

====Site Assessment and Planning====

This activity is often done with contractors to identify appropriate snow storage areas, vehicle impact hazards, problem areas such as grading that directs melt water or precipitation to walkways, roof downspouts directed to paved areas, or infrastructure that could be damaged by snowplows. A winter maintenance policy stipulating the expected weather-based level of service, areas requiring winter maintenance and other guiding elements should also be developed as part of a winter risk management strategy. Certification of the property(ies) through the [http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/becomesascertified Smart about Salt Council] can help property managers through the process of developing a plan and policy, while also demonstrating how the organization has endeavored to provide a reasonable level of care in the event of lawsuits.

This activity is often done with contractors to identify appropriate snow storage areas, vehicle impact hazards, problem areas such as grading that directs melt water or precipitation to walkways, roof downspouts directed to paved areas, or infrastructure that could be damaged by snowplows. A winter maintenance policy stipulating the expected weather-based level of service, areas requiring winter maintenance and other guiding elements should also be developed as part of a winter risk management strategy. Certification of the property(ies) through the [http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/becomesascertified Smart about Salt Council] can help property managers through the process of developing a plan and policy, while also demonstrating how the organization has endeavored to provide a reasonable level of care in the event of lawsuits.

====On-Site Equipment====

====On-Site Equipment====

Salt storage and spreading equipment, such as salt boxes, liquid storage containers, and walkway spreading devices can be used by building management staff for periodic or spot treatments, which may reduce requests for contractors to return to the site to apply more salt.  On-site mobile or in-pavement temperature and salt residue sensors, along with weather forecasting tools are also useful to inform salting decisions and provide building managers with tools to verify that the salting approaches applied to the site and discussed with contractors as part of the winter maintenance plan are appropriately tailored to site conditions.   

Salt storage and spreading equipment, such as salt boxes, liquid storage containers, and walkway spreading devices can be used by building management staff for periodic or spot treatments, which may reduce requests for contractors to return to the site to apply more salt.  On-site mobile or in-pavement temperature and salt residue sensors, along with weather forecasting tools are also useful to inform salting decisions and provide building managers with tools to verify that the salting approaches applied to the site and discussed with contractors as part of the winter maintenance plan are appropriately tailored to site conditions.   

====Record Keeping====

====Record Keeping====

*Avoiding excessive use of hold harmless clauses that place undue legal liability burdens on contractors;  

*Avoiding excessive use of hold harmless clauses that place undue legal liability burdens on contractors;  

*Structuring contract pricing structure based on number of events or season to avoid incentivizing salt use.  

*Structuring contract pricing structure based on number of events or season to avoid incentivizing salt use.  

Examples of the types of best management practices that may be considered when preparing contracts are also provided in the [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Procurement-Guidance-Parking-Lot-Snow-and-Ice-Mgmt.pdf STEP's Procurement Guidance for Parking Lot Snow and Ice Management report] (STEP, 2019)<ref name="example5" />, along with estimates of the impact on salt use, and the potential influence these may have on contract costs.

Examples of the types of best management practices that may be considered when preparing contracts are also provided in the [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2019/06/Procurement-Guidance-Parking-Lot-Snow-and-Ice-Mgmt.pdf STEP's Procurement Guidance for Parking Lot Snow and Ice Management report] (STEP, 2019)<ref name="example5" />, along with estimates of the impact on salt use, and the potential influence these may have on contract costs.

* [https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/living-here/winter-maintenance-for-commercial-properties.aspx Waterloo Region]

* [https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/living-here/winter-maintenance-for-commercial-properties.aspx Waterloo Region]

* [https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2022-01-17/coh-salt-management-plan2021.pdf Hamilton Region]<br>

* [https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2022-01-17/coh-salt-management-plan2021.pdf Hamilton Region]<br>

===Winter Maintenance Professionals===

===Winter Maintenance Professionals===

***Using Trained Professionals through the [http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/training Ontario Smart about Salt Program]

***Using Trained Professionals through the [http://www.smartaboutsalt.com/training Ontario Smart about Salt Program]

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2021/05/Friction-and-Parking-Lots.pdf LSRCA's Technical Bulletin: Alternatives to Salt].<ref name="example9" />

*[https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/03/Alternatives-to-salt-technical-brief.pdf LSRCA's Technical Bulletin: Alternatives to Salt].<ref name="example9" />

**This technical bulletin by LSRCA discusses the issue of high levels of salt application, and how contractors, property owners and municipalities can save time and money by looking at the emerging research which shows how salt use can also be optimized in parking lots. This research was done by using a friction tester, with a goal of quantifying the effectiveness of various practices and salt application rates.  

**This technical bulletin by LSRCA discusses the issue of high levels of salt application, and how contractors, property owners and municipalities can save time and money by looking at the emerging research which shows how salt use can also be optimized in parking lots. This research was done by using a friction tester, with a goal of quantifying the effectiveness of various practices and salt application rates.