In a move that's both economic and ecological, several Bloomington businesses and the City itself are stepping up their game when it comes to winter road treatments by becoming smart-salting certified through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), as reported by the city of Bloomington. The certification is introducing more efficient ways to keep ice at bay while slashing the amount of salt winding up in the local environment.
It seems there's a significant payoff for being mindful of salt usage; businesses like Friendship Village and Toro have managed to cut back their salt use by a striking 30-70%, according to the city report, Toro, known for its turf maintenance equipment, took this initiative to heart, with Facilities Technician Drew Fischer saying, "The Toro Company chose to be Smart Salt Certified to help reduce salt usage and better protect our lakes, streams, plants and other surfaces," recognizing a responsibility to protect the local ecosystem even as they maintain safe surfaces.
But it's not just about company feel-goods; there are tangible results, too. The MPCA observed two winter seasons in Dakota County and saw a drop of 55 tons of salt per snow event following the smart-salting training, safeguarding around 40 million gallons of water each time from chloride contamination – an impressive figure that spares the vital waterways many depend on.
Charlie Rhein, the lead groundskeeper at Friendship Village of Bloomington, recounted a change in methodology saying, "After the training, I applied salt differently," he pointed out the nuances of how they've started using brines and crystals to a more economically and environmentally beneficial effect, and without compromising the safety of the pavements and walkways they tend, with these efforts not only benefiting nature but the business's bottom line as well.
For companies and institutions interested in joining the ranks of Earth Action Heroes, information is available on the Bloomington city website, where there's guidance on how to reduce salt use and protect Minnesota's aquatic resources.
