Salt Application Practices Survey

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The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is collecting anonymous input from municipal staff, contractors, and decision-makers involved in winter maintenance to better understand current salt application practices and opportunities for reduction in the Delaware River Basin.

Which best describes your role?

Elected Official

Municipal, public works, or state employee

Municipal, public works, or state manager or supervisor

Contractor employee

Contractor manager or supervisor

Other:

Clear selection

Which best describes your direct role related to the application of de-icing salts?

I apply salt

I supervise those who apply salts

I make decisions impacting the application of salts

I develop ordinances or guidance impacting the application of salts

I have no direct role related to application of salts

Other:

Clear selection

Which most closely approximates your personal opinion regarding the application of de-icing salts?

Too little salt is applied

The right amount of salt is applied

Too much salt is applied

Don't know / have no opinion

Other:

Clear selection

What factors most influence your salt application decisions? Please select all that apply.

Concerns about legal liability

Concerns about maintaining consistent future budget levels

Public perception

Lack of information about how to safely reduce salt application

Political pressure

Contract obligations

Guidance or instruction from a supervisor

Other:

Which winter maintenance strategies do you currently employ? Please select all that apply.

Traditional deicers (e.g., sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride)

Alternative deicers (e.g., potassium acetate, beet juice, other organic additives)

Abrasives (e.g., sand, cinders, gravel mixes)

Brining

Plowing

Road condition sensors networks

Other:

What salt reduction strategies do you currently employ? Please select all that apply.

Use of alternative deicers instead chloride-based salts

Use of abrasives mixed with salts

Pre-wetting (application of brine as anti-icing)

Use of live-edge snow plows to optimize snow removal

Calibration of truck's salt spreader

Strategic salting (e.g., shaded areas, hills, emergency service routes)

Use of Road Weather Information Systems to inform timing of salt application

Pre-wetting salt with brine

Manual removal (with live-edge plow, traditional straight-edge plow, or other method)

None

Other:

Do you recommend any changes in winter road maintenance materials or methods?

Yes

Maybe

Clear selection

What would be the main reason(s) for your above answer? (i.e., cost, availability, storage limitations, time clearing the roads)

What is your perception of external pressures regarding applied salt? Please select the best match.

We are under pressure to REDUCE the amount of salt applied

We are under pressure to MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO amount of salt applied

We are under pressure to INCREASE the amount of salt applied

We are under no pressure regarding the amount of salt applied

Don't know or no opinion

Clear selection

On a scale from 1–5, how concerned are you about the amount of salt being applied?

Very concerned

Not at all concerned

Clear selection

If you have concerns about the amount of salt being applied, what are they? (optional)

If you are not concerned about the amount of salt being applied, please explain (optional):

What incentives, information, or actions would increase your likelihood of adopting salt reduction strategies? Please select all that apply.

Reduced liability for reductions in road salt application

Regulatory cap on the allowable amount of salt applied per lane-mile

Financial support for the acquisition of equipment

Training in salt reduction

Availability of real-time road condition data (i.e., RWIS)

Public pressure

Political pressure

Guaranteed sustainable funding for future salt acquisition regardless of how much salt is used this winter

Municipal ordinance

Information about the impact of salt on water resources and infrastructure

Other:

What types of organizations would you be willing to coordinate or partner with to reduce salt application? Please select all that apply.

Federal government

State government

River basin commission (government)

Organization of municipalities

Advocacy groups

Academic institutions

Consulting firm

None

Municipal peer networks (e.g., neighboring townships)

Other:

What do most people misunderstand about road de-icing and salt application?

One thing that would help reduce the amount of salt applied is:

If you have any other feedback or input, please provide that here. Thank you!

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