Stewardship Tip Jan 12th, 2009- Deicers
Sodium chloride has been used effectively as a deicer since the 1940s. It melts snow and ice forming a liquid brine that seeps downward and contacts paved surfaces. The brine spreads outward breaking the bond between ice and cold surfaces. This makes it possible to physically loosen and remove whole sheets of compacted snow and ice.
Sodium chloride, as well as calcium chloride and potassium chloride, two other deicing agents, can contaminate fresh water and pose a health risk to humans and fish. These deicers can, moreover, act as desiccants on salt intolerant vegetation.
Many deicing agents use urea, a compound synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide that is used primarily as a fertilizer. If urea remains on top of the soil, it will break down rapidly and the ammonia will escape into the air. If urea enters the watershed through runoff, though, it can contribute to algal blooms.
Consider using CMA: Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) is a relatively new, salt-free, melting agent made from dolomitic limestone and acetic acid. It causes little damage to concrete or plants and is used as an alternative to salts in environmentally sensitive areas. Although it is more expensive that sodium chloride and urea, CMA is an effective deicer that has a low impact on the environment and our fish.
Why it is important to the fish: Researchers have found that CMA is biodegradeable in soil and has poor mobility making it less likely to reach groundwater. Moreover, CMA does not adversely affect zooplankton, daphnia, bluegill, and fathead minnows at the expected maximum runoff concentration (1000 ppm). Sodium, in comparison, can be toxic to sticklebacks in concentrations of 500 ppm, chlorides can be toxic to trout in concentrations of 400 ppm.
If you are replenishing your stock of deicer, we would encourage you to try CMA.
The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service has more information about deicers here.
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