Sudbury advocacy group wants to limit salt used on roads in order to protect the local watershed
As winter winds down and the snow melt begins, the Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance is calling on the city to do more to protect our waterways from road salt.
The alliance released a statement indicating its concern that there isn’t enough being done to protect local water systems from exposure.
When road salt migrates after the melt, there is no way from stopping it from entering waterways.
“It’s possible to remove it but is prohibitively expensive – so no one does that and so once it dissolves into the system and you can’t filter it out so the sodium is now increasing in lake Ramsey,” said Richard Witham with the alliance.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
In 2006, the city was one of the first in Canada to implement a procedure to reduce the amount of road salt by using sand whenever possible.
“We try to make sure we look at a very focused watershed level to ensure we’re doing the kinds of things to protect and mitigate the effects of urbanization,” said Tony Cecutti, the general manager of Growth and Infrastructure for the City of Greater Sudbury.
Witham said development around Ramsey Lake is of particular concern.
Officials with the water alliance said they want the city to deem the roads as residential, as they would prefer the use of sand over salt.
“We’re aware there is going to be development within the Ramsey lake sub-water shed but if it’s development that’s only using residential roads then in fact they’re not obligated to salt,” said Witham.
“Then they can sand and as a result we’re not adding to the problem.”
Cecutti told CTV News the city shares the same concerns for the watershed around Ramsey Lake and continue to plan any future developments accordingly.
“Certainty the Ramsey Lake watershed is one where we are anticipating for the most part residential development, so I would say for the most part we will be adhering to that aspirational goal,” said Cecutti.
Even with the upcoming arrival of spring, there is still snow in the forecast – which means the local ecosystems will still have likely weeks of road salt exposure.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.