Timmins residents discouraged from using salt on their properties

Members of the Mattagami Region Source Protection Committee hosted an information session Wednesday at the Timmins Square shopping mall.

They want people to reconsider using salt on their properties. They said salt is harmful to the environment – even pet-friendly salt – and encourage the use of sand or a mixture of sand and salt.

The Mattagami Region Source Protection Committee met with shoppers at the Timmins Square to inform them about the hazards of using salt on their driveways and sidewalks during the winter months. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)

"We are giving away a 12-ounce cup that you can use at home, and that's the amount of salt that you should actually use that's on your property that won't affect the environment but is still safe to use," said Crystal Percival, source protection committee lead at the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority.

Percival said fortunately, the use of salt has yet to show a major impact in the Timmins area, but new provincial rules are coming.

"We're just trying to take a proactive approach just to educate the community because there will be changes coming down the pipeline, so to speak, in the next few years with regards to salt application," she said.

"It includes a lot of residential areas."

The City of Timmins uses salt for winter road maintenance, but its environmental coordinator said crews follow a salt management plan.

"We work very closely to ensure that salt is applied in the right place, at the right time and so, you know, we're all doing our part," said Christina Beaton.

The Mattagami Region Source Protection Committee met with shoppers at the Timmins Square to inform them about the hazards of using salt on their driveways and sidewalks during the winter months. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)

"We're here to try and educate residents and businesses, you know, not only just in the source protection areas but also just across the community, because it is it is better for our environment."

One local resident stopped by the booth to pick up a cup and thanked the group for providing public education.

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"I did realize it because I studied it in water for three years," said Genvieve Brouzes.

"I'm happy to see that people are announcing it to others and making other people aware. I typically use sand, but sometimes we'll use salt, maybe a mixture of both. But we try not to use anything that will leach into our waterways."

Officials asked people to also remember that rock salt is less effective in temperatures colder than -12 C and sand works better.

They also recommend you shovel snow as soon as possible to prevent ice buildup.