Winter brings cold weather and holiday joy and raises concerns about waterway health. When the ground freezes, it can’t filter pollutants like litter, grit, and salt. A City of Mentor report detailed that these build up in snow and ice and are washed into storm drains and water bodies when the snow melts in spring.
To help combat this seasonal pollution onslaught, the City of Mentor lays out several measures to dutifully remove pollutants from our cityscape. These range from minimizing salt use on frozen driveways to ensuring pet waste isn't entombed in the snow. The city's news release advises removing as much ice as possible before using salt. If salt is necessary, it is recommended to apply it sparingly and clean up any spills or excess afterward.
Additionally, the pointers highlight using environmentally friendly alternatives to salt, such as sand, which not only aids in deicing but also provides necessary traction. However, once its job is done, sweeping up this sand is crucial to avoid it from being swept into drainage systems. This practical step is as straightforward as it comes, yet its implications travel far beyond the immediate.
For pet owners, there's a simple yet powerful way to immediately reduce bacterial pollutants—by picking up after their pets and ensuring waste doesn't become buried in the winter snowscape. Also, commercial car washes come under the spotlight—these operations, according to the City of Mentor, direct soapy water away from stormwater systems and into appropriate waste treatment facilities. A small act of choice in car maintenance can quietly preserve the integrity of our waterways.
