Immediate Release
January 15, 2010
Batavia, Ohio. There are an increasing number of options to salt when it comes to melting snow and ice from your driveway, sidewalk, and porch. “Salt works as a deicer, but it can damage some metals, concrete, and asphalt, causing cracking and weakness with extended use,” said Clermont County Storm Water Management Program Coordinator John McManus. “Another reason to consider an alternative, is that salt can be harmful to plants, lakes, ponds, and even drinking water.”
Two low-corrosion alternatives to salt are calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) and calcium chloride. These products are no more corrosive than ordinary tap water and, according to McManus, are not harmful to vegetation. “CMA actually strengthens the soil and can stimulate plant growth by providing abundant organic acid in the way that liming a garden improves vitality,” he said. Another benefit to using the alternatives to ice, in surface water CMA does not stimulate algae growth or kill aquatic life.
“If these options don’t work, there is the chemical free solution, shoveling the snow and ice,” said McManus. He said if you want to minimize the amount of work, shovel a small walking path on sidewalks and two tire paths on driveways. Shoveling these pathways clear, even part of the time, while using CMA or calcium chloride the other part, can make the pathways safer to maneuver and lessen salt and chemical damage to our environment.
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For additional information about this or other county news, contact Clermont County Communications Director Kathryn Lehr at (513) 732-7597 or by e-mail, klehr@co.clermont.oh.us.