TCMA Chloride Management Plan - Prioritizing and Implementing Restoration and Protection - Municipalities

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Expectations for all municipalities will begin with an assessment of the existing winter maintenance practices and designing a plan to improve practices. The MS4s will have an additional requirement to report progress on the use of improved winter maintenance practices to the MPCA.

The purpose of this assessment is to determine where opportunities exist to make reductions in salt use. The information in the CMP may be used by municipalities to assess existing practices, specifically the assessment criteria in Appendix B. For a quicker and more thorough assessment, the online WMAt, currently under development, could be used. The WMAt designed to be an easy-to-use web-based tool. This tool will allow municipalities to evaluate their current winter maintenance program at a very detailed level and create a customized plan for implementing salt savings. The tool will allow an individual to assess their current practices and speculate on potential future practices to understand how to reduce the use of chlorides while still providing an acceptable level of service.

This tool is developed for winter maintenance professionals with a broad and detailed understanding of the winter maintenance operations. These professionals should conduct the assessment, then set and share the goals so that the organization can work to meet the goals.

Municipalities can choose to assess existing practices using any means. Municipalities should identify practices to improve winter maintenance activities, with priority on eliminating remedial or unacceptable practices. The implementation goal for each MS4 will be specific to the MS4.

Each municipality will have a unique implementation goal. Some municipalities have already made substantial improvements in practices and require minor effort to improve practices. For leading edge operations it is worthwhile to note the technology and tools for further reductions of salt use are constantly evolving and changing. Organizations currently demonstrating the best practices will still have to dedicate time and resources to stay current with the industry. Leading edge operations could consider sharing their experiences with other organizations that are attempting to lower salt use. For organizations that are just beginning reductions, it may be worthwhile to observe the operations and equipment of those who have already made progress on reducing salt. Networking with other operators could be part of the organization’s plan. Organizations outside of Minnesota may also have valuable insights. Many municipalities in the Midwest and Canada have developed expertise in different areas of winter maintenance and are recognized by their peers across the nations.

Example: Years 1-2

• Educate civic leaders on the benefits to reducing chloride and its importance.
• Partner with the MPCA to offer the Smart Salting winter maintenance training for local private winter maintenance professionals in the area each winter.
• Educate 50% of constituents on the benefits of smart salt use.
• Create awareness about the environmental impacts of chloride through education, outreach, and other activities to local residents, applicators, elected officials, and businesses.
• Attend trainings, workshops, and events to learn about new technology and strategies for reduced salt use.

Example: Years 3-5

• Educate 75% of constituents on the benefits of smart salt use.
• Recognize private winter maintenance organizations for upgrading equipment or implementing innovating practices.
• Implement a rebate program to residents to install on-demand water softeners and remove old, inefficient water softeners.
• Provide “free” advertising to private applicators who meet Smart Salting criteria.
• Encourage local businesses and public buildings to reduce salt use through improved insurance benefits and liability protection.
• Partner with state and local stakeholders on innovative projects to reduce chloride at the source.

Example: Years 6-10

• Educate 100% of constituents on the benefits of smart salt use.
• Create model ordinances, educational materials, or incentives for the organization or others to use and/or adopt. For example:
  • Restrict the application of salt within a city to trained winter maintenance professionals.
  • Citizens are asked to prove their knowledge of salt problems in the water and sign a pledge to use less salt, in return for a stormwater fee credit.
  • Create consumer awareness materials available at participating stores (promoting the sales of shovels and snow blowers instead of ice melt).
  • Encourage hazardous household waste centers to accept ice-melt products.