00204290

Monograph

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...ubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_91.pdf

A REVIEW, COMPILATION, AND INTERPRETATION IS PRESENTED OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEEDED RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTS OF DEICING SALTS ON WATER SUPPLIES FOR DOMESTIC, AGRICULTURAL, FISH, AND WILDLIFE USES. THIS REPORT COVERS THE LITERATURE REVIEW AND SURVEY PHASE OF THE STUDY. CURRENT ICE AND SNOW CONTROL PRACTICES ARE REVIEWED, AND THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY ON THE USE OF DEICING SALTS BY THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS AND TOLL AUTHORITIES ARE PRESENTED. IT WAS COMPUTED THAT SEVERAL STATES APPLIED MORE THAN 20 TONS OF DEICING SALT PER SEASON PER LANE-MILE TO SOME HIGHWAYS. THIRTEEN STATES REPORTED INJURY TO PLANTS, AND 12 STATES REPORTED WATER CONTAMINATION AS SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE USE OF SALTS. THE EFFECTS OF DEICING SALTS ON WATER SUPPLIES FOR MAN, ANIMALS, FISH, AND WILDLIFE IS MAINLY AN OBJECTION TO TASTE, BUT EXTREMELY HIGH SALT CONCENTRATION CAUSES A DECREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT USING LARGE QUANTITIES OF DEICING SALTS IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE INJURIOUS EFFECTS ON PLANT GROWTH ALONG HIGHWAYS. DEICING SALTS HAVE NOT CONTAMINATED MAJOR DRAINAGE AREAS IN THE NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTH EAST UNITED STATES WHERE A HIGH DILUTION FACTOR EXISTS. HOWEVER, IN OTHER AREAS WATER VOLUME IS USUALLY SMALL NEAR ROADSIDE AREAS, AND DILUTION IS NOT ALWAYS SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT HIGH SALT CONCENTRATION. HOWEVER, THE MAGNITUDE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF SUCH CONTAMINATION IS UNCERTAIN.

Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Proj 16-1, PART II, 70 PP, FIGS, TABS, 5 APP

1970

NCHRP Report

Digital/other

Data collection; Deicers (Equipment); Drainage structures; Plants; Reviews; Runoff; Salts; Snow and ice control; Surveys; Water resources; Wildlife

Deicers

Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment

TRIS, ATRI

Aug 3 1970 12:00AM