Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual

Background Information

Good Business Choices

Customer service is the key to success. Best Management Practices (BMP) keep parking lots and sidewalks safe and also reduce environmental impacts. Educating customers on the proper methods of snow removal and ice control (and of the value of this approach) can create a good and long-standing relationship.

Customers want reliable service. Providing a well-planned and well-executed winter maintenance program will have a positive impact. Using the latest technologies will increase the abilty to provide reliable service.

Customers want to hire educated winter maintenance professionals. This maunal will provide the necessary information to increase staff knowledge on the best practices for winter maintenance.

Using the right amount of material at the right time, will save time and money.

Certification in Smart Salting is a good reflection on the professional and the organization.

Customers and the public want safe parking lots and sidewalks. Understanding the materials, weather and application rates, provide a head start on controlling icy, slippery parking lots, and sidewalks.

Clean and neat parking lots and sidewalks are important to the public. By using less material and increased winter sweeping, pedestrians will track less material into buildings and there will be less damage to flooring. Proper snow storage makes debris removal in the spring easier. Covered storage of deicers will reduce loss of material, protect water, and is more aesthetic. Using BMPs and lower application rates will keep parking lots and sidewalks looking neat.

Customers also want affordable snow and ice control. The use of sophisticated chemicals and equipment may require a larger budget up-front; however, these costs can be balanced by reduced on-going costs. Reducing the need for sweeping, floor and rug maintenance, parking lot striping, and snow and ice maintenance time will allow for cost savings.

Minnesotan’s value water resources and the protection of lakes, streams, and wetlands is important. Educating customers how sustainable winter maintenance protects water resources is necessary.

Using less material is an effective approach to protecting our water resources. It is difficult to recover salt or sand once applied.

Water and Environmental Impacts

• Only 2.5% of all of the water on this planet is freshwater (not saltwater). Of that, less than 1% is available for use. The majority of the freshwater is frozen in the glaciers (Freshwater Crisis n.d.).

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Available water

• Water is recycled over long periods of time. There is a limited supply of water on this planet. Water is reused, recycled and dispersed as illustrated below from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), “Healthy Rivers: a Water Course” (Healthy Rivers 2004).

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Water cycle