The City of Edmonton is considering using calcium chloride on roads again this winter. The chemical is used to break down snow and ice, but in 2020 the city stopped using it on its roads due to concerns being raised about potential environmental impacts and vehicle rust.<\/p>\n
“We have recommendations from academia, industry, front-line staff as well as Epcor and our environmental group,” Valerie Dacyk, the city’s supervisor of snow and ice removal, said at a news conference on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In January, Coun. Jon Morgan proposed the chemical be brought back to road crews’ arsenal after Edmonton’s most recent winter season was particularly erratic.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s one of the right tools that we can use to mitigate some of these dangerous conditions that we have,” Morgan told CBC News at the time.<\/p>\n
Dacyk cited Morgan’s proposal as being what triggered the city looking into calcium chloride use again.<\/p>\n
Cities across Canada still use calcium chloride, including Calgary, Toronto and Saskatoon.<\/p>\n
The liquid chemical can be used in three different ways; application to pavement before a major snowfall, spraying it onto existing ice to speed up the melting process and mixing the chemical with salt or sand to improve adhesion.<\/p>\n
LISTEN | Coun. Aaron Paquette\u00a0on the drawback of calcium chloride:<\/p>\n
According to a June report<\/a>, upgrading the system to support increased use of the chemical would cost roughly $4.4 million upfront and $2.5 million each year.<\/p>\n