Ottawa – The City of Ottawa is working in partnership with local public and private sector organizations, local snow removal contractors and other key stakeholders, to move forward with salt management best practices as a means of protecting the environment and being fiscally responsible.

“The City is committed to being an environmental leader and steward through the adoption of innovative ways of reducing the amount of rock salt spread over the winter season,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “We are pleased to be working in collaboration with other jurisdictions to make smart choices about how and when we use salt to improve safety, while ensuring our actions are in the best interests of our residents and the environment.”

At a Smart About Salt Summit held today by the City of Ottawa and by public and private sector groups, Smart About Salt Council, Landscape Ontario and the Ontario Good Roads Association, participants will share best salt management practices and learn how the City has employed innovative management strategies and technology to reduce its reliance on salt for de-icing area roads, driveways, sidewalks and parking lots.

“Salt is a necessary tools for keeping our roads and sidewalks clear of ice during the winter, but excessive use of this important resource can lead to negative impacts on our environment,” said Councillor Steve Desroches. “By implementing smart salt practices, we will not only achieve environmental benefits, but also reduce winter maintenance costs and extend the capital life of our infrastructure.”

The City is working closely with the not-for-profit Smart About Salt Council to foster responsible salt management practices within the City and private industry, and to protect the safety of drinking water and the environment by advocating for smart salt use.

Over the years, the City has significantly optimized how it uses salt on winter roads and sidewalks to minimize the effects of salt on the local environment through the use of technologies, such as GPS data collection, electronic variable salt rate controllers, infrared pavement temperature gauges and various innovative business processes.

“As responsible members of the community, we at BOMA recognize the need to take a leadership role in advocating for smart rock salt usage amongst our members as a means of protecting our environment and the people we serve,” said Dean Karakasis, Executive Director of the Building Owners and Managers Association, Ottawa Chapter. “We are pleased to work closely with the City on this worthwhile initiative.”

Councillor Steve Desroches; Bob Hodgins, Smart about Salt; Tony DiGiovanni, Landscape Ontario; and Dean Karakasis, BOMA after a successful Smart About Salt Summit.