Eastern Ontario municipalities are rationing road salt supplies or blending it with sand to cope with a widespread shortage triggered by an unusually snowy winter. This scarcity has accelerated the depletion of stockpiles, forcing local governments to adapt their de-icing strategies to maintain public safety.

Brockville’s Response to the Shortage

In Brockville, public works supervisor Yanick Beaudin describes the situation as one of the most challenging issues for ensuring road safety. The city has exhausted much of its reserves due to frequent snow events this season. “This is probably one of the worst things that you can have thrown at you when you rely on a product to ensure public safety,” Beaudin stated.

Brockville now applies a mixture of salt and sand on roads. While sand improves traction, it does not melt ice as effectively as salt alone. Beaudin expresses confidence that the remaining supplies will suffice through the winter, despite the constraints. “There’s been just way too many snow events this year, and most municipalities have run through the majority of their stockpiles,” he explained. “Usually we rely on them to ship out more to us, but there’s nothing left to ship.”

Challenges at the Province’s Largest Salt Mine

The high demand stems from the weather patterns, overwhelming even the world’s largest salt mine in Goderich, Ontario, operated by Compass Minerals. The company reports that the entire supply chain faces intense pressure but is prioritizing deliveries to municipal clients and working diligently to meet all orders.

Lanark County’s Conservation Efforts

Lanark County, a rural area west of Ottawa encompassing communities such as Carleton Place, Maberly, and Perth, is also reducing salt usage to stretch its limited reserves. Warden Richard Kidd notes that the county has already consumed over 8,000 tonnes this season, leaving just 500 tonnes in storage.

Like Brockville, Lanark County opts for a salt-sand blend for routine winter maintenance, reserving pure salt for severe ice storms. “By mixing it with the sand, we’re still meeting all provincial standards,” Kidd said. “It’s just not going to be a bare road. It’s probably going to be a little bit more slushy, but it’ll make our about 500 tonnes go a lot farther.”