Comments
madmansmarker OP t1_j1082qa wrote
I feel I could have worded the title better. NH was the first place EVER to use salt on its roads (or at least in recorded history).
RobinsShaman t1_j10843b wrote
We really need to find an alternative. It poisons our lakes, steams, and any dirt's near the roads. And cars.
epsileth t1_j108jcl wrote
Beet brine is an alternative, if you don't mind the murder scene look.
madmansmarker OP t1_j109g3j wrote
if you have an image, THIS would make an interesting TIL post
Morall_tach t1_j109jhq wrote
What a weird comparison.
Morall_tach t1_j109lpv wrote
They use cheese brine in some parts of the Midwest too.
Morall_tach t1_j10a4zh wrote
Libertas-Vel-Mors t1_j10ag3c wrote
That's why so many cars in snowy states are rusted out
Libertas-Vel-Mors t1_j10ajpp wrote
If we could just warm the climate a few degrees snow wouldn't be as big of an issue in more places
madmansmarker OP t1_j10am8k wrote
ha wow! i can’t believe i never heard of this
Stunning_Delay9811 t1_j10bqxc wrote
It's brown...
iBleeedorange t1_j10f17l wrote
Some places use sand
wwarnout t1_j10hkk0 wrote
> I feel I could have worded the title better.
Also, that's a useless comparison. We don't eat our roads, and we don't worry about slippery food.
wwarnout t1_j10iaus wrote
Our area does. It doesn't work quite as well as salt, but it isn't an environmental nightmare, either.
Remember the problem with the water in Flint? This was primarily due to their using salt on the roads, which washed off into streams, which in turn fed rivers - and Flint was getting their drinking water from these rivers.
The corrosive effect of the salty water was so bad that a local General Motors plant had to stop using it to wash their engine parts, because it was corroding the parts. So, imagine drinking that water.
Also, because it was so corrosive, it dissolved the lead in the pipes, which was the main reason it was such a disaster.
madmansmarker OP t1_j10k0y2 wrote
clearly you've never made sourdough and forgotten the salt.
the_hell_you_say t1_j10mhea wrote
I think you're on to something here
lcarsadmin t1_j10mijo wrote
Thats only because they've been reducing sodium in processed foods ;)
mrjosemeehan t1_j10mxes wrote
Does that leave sugar rich residue? Because that could have serious environmental impacts itself.
epsileth t1_j10n7pc wrote
Depends on the mix, but it is probably better than blasting the road with salt.
If you're on a highway with grass on one side, the beet brine doesn't kill plants, so that's a plus.
cycleguychopperguy t1_j10r07x wrote
Never mind they didn't use proper corrosion inhibitors because it saved them money since no one was paying there bills....
square3481 t1_j10rt8p wrote
One of the mayors of Seattle did that over a decade ago, and the bungled response caused him to lose the next election.
ash_274 t1_j10st25 wrote
Don't you have to put that down before it snows and it's not as effective as salt after the snow falls?
epsileth t1_j10xaeb wrote
Before it snows, even after it lowers surface ice melting point.
epsileth t1_j10y72b wrote
Oxidized beet brine. Most often from sugar beets. Not all beets are bright red.
nightwing12 t1_j111via wrote
The roads don’t taste good unless you salt liberally
i81u812 t1_j115fxk wrote
Yes, actually.
i81u812 t1_j115jce wrote
The salt they used where I lived up in the mountains was agri-safe. I'd imagine most of it doesn't do this anymore but who knows.
Libertas-Vel-Mors t1_j1166u4 wrote
I appreciate you agreeing with me
balls80082 t1_j11a5bm wrote
I made about 10000 gallons of liquid deicing agent w/ sugar beet today, I can assure you that about 20,000lbs of salt was dissolved, you can’t just use straight beet, 5000 gallons is like 12,000 dollars, it’s not a cost effective solution.
PhysicsIsFun t1_j11b69g wrote
I don't think they used salt on the roads in Wisconsin when I was a kid (50s and 60s). The roads seemed to always have packed snow on them. I lived in LaCrosse and we would sled down roads on the bluffs. They did spread sand. Which was no doubt more environmentally sound, but did not do a good job of clearing the ice and packed snow.
deifitssip t1_j11dova wrote
Dwight?
GherkinEnthusiast t1_j11ffwm wrote
Actually?
epsileth t1_j11fwbf wrote
Bears, beets, battlestar galactica?
jehedjchrie t1_j11i3va wrote
I think it’s just a surprising fact to people because salt is in almost everything we eat and a lot of places don’t get snow or ice so don’t salt the roads.
valeyard89 t1_j11ksh0 wrote
Well yeah, roads aren't very tasty otherwise.
deifitssip t1_j11nvfu wrote
Michael!
ElleHopper t1_j11pput wrote
The EPAs website says that NaCl is most commonly used as rock salt, MgCl2 is less efficient so is typically not used, and CaCl2 is used only in vulnerable areas due to the expense of it.
bignateyk t1_j11pvsl wrote
During Covid we visited a zoo that normally had a bus ride safari. During Covid they let you drive your car through follow-the-leader style.
I had just driven through some snowy weather to get there so I had salt all over my car. The entire safari a group of bison was following my car around using it like a giant salt lick.
Salvia_McLovin t1_j11uhfs wrote
it's also fucking up bodies of water since all that salt gets washed into runoff and that ends up in lakes and rivers and changes the salinity for the worse
Salvia_McLovin t1_j11unj8 wrote
yep all that water and salty shit corrodes metal over time. it's no bueno
Killianti t1_j12985k wrote
You'll sometimes hear the news talk about clogged arteries during rush-hour snow storms. This combination of clogged arteries and high salt can raise blood pressure to lethal levels.
critfist t1_j129i50 wrote
My worry is that it could lea h into lake and ocean water and cause algae blooms. It sounds fine though in most cases.
mahabraja t1_j12eyxg wrote
I dono, if loony tunes is teaching anything, it's about the dangers of a banana peel.
DangoQueenFerris t1_j12fmvy wrote
I was under the impression sand was just to give traction. Nothing to do with melting snow.
Zwazi t1_j12oi1m wrote
Yeah, and the fact that it's only 10x more salted than our food is a bit concerning. No wonder my blood pressure is so high.
RadomirPutnik t1_j12oweg wrote
It can help melt ever so slightly with some sunlight (due to the darker color), but you are correct that melting is not really part of the equation.
LastEngill t1_j146y6a wrote
that's why the sea water is so salty.....
JamesUpton87 t1_j14ljpe wrote
I'd be suprised if that wasn't true.
WesternOne9990 t1_j16he98 wrote
Big problem in Minnesota and I think the shallow aquifer under Madison Wisconsin is forever tainted and they recommend pre diabetic and diabetics don’t drink the tap water. (Iirc)
Also they recommend you grease your undercarriage every winter to minimize rust.
DestaNations t1_j17ea1q wrote
They don't salt them in Montana
[deleted] t1_j1c8x89 wrote
[deleted]
redthreadzen t1_j1pnc1i wrote
The car industry really loves the use of salt. It makes sure cars rust at an astonishing rate.
ergonaut t1_j107k92 wrote
Well, I would hope we salt our roads more than our food!