McHenry County Sensible Salting Workshops

“The use of Best Management Practices for snow/ice control that maintains safety for pedestrians, drivers, vehicles and property while eliminating the unnecessary use of salt in order to save money and minimize impacts to water and the environment.”

Snow and ice management is critical to protecting lives, promoting public safety, and maintaining commerce during winter.  However, our use of roadsalt and other chloride-based chemical deicers is polluting our water including the groundwater aquifers we depend on for drinking water.  Since there is not currently a viable alternative to chloride based deicers, our best option is to use them wisely.  This is the essence of Sensible Salting best management practices. 

Since 2009 McHenry County and our partners have held Annual Workshops to train staff on Sensible Salting techniques. These Workshops provide a comprehensive overview of current best management practices for snow and ice control on roads. A strong emphasis is placed on Sensible Salting practices that maintain safety on roads while minimizing impacts from chlorides to water, environment, and infrastructure.

Workshop Materials:

• Water Resources and Sensible Salting Presentation

• MCDOT Snow/Ice Management and Sensible Salting Presentations

• Anti-Ice Flow Chart

• Deicing Application Rates-Parking Lots and Sidewalks

• Deicing Application Rates-Roads

• Public Roads Snow and Ice Handbook

For more information contact Scott Kuykendall, McHenry County Water Resources Specialist, at SHKuykendall@mchenrycountyil.gov