Eastern Ontario municipalities are rationing road salt supplies or blending it with sand amid a province-wide shortage triggered by an unusually snowy winter. This scarcity has accelerated the depletion of stockpiles, forcing local governments to adapt their winter maintenance strategies to ensure public safety.
Brockville Implements Mixed De-Icing Approach
In Brockville, Ontario, public works supervisor Yanick Beaudin describes the situation as one of the most challenging issues for road maintenance. “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.
The city has exhausted much of its salt reserves faster than anticipated due to frequent snow events. Beaudin noted, “There’s been just way too many snow events this year, and most municipalities have ran through the majority of their stockpiles.” Normally, replenishments come from the world’s largest salt mine in Goderich, Ontario, operated by Compass Minerals, but supplies are currently depleted.
Compass Minerals reports that the entire supply chain faces unprecedented demand from harsh weather conditions. The company is prioritizing deliveries to municipal clients while working to meet all orders.
To stretch remaining resources, Brockville plans to apply salt mixed with sand on roads. While sand improves traction, it does not melt ice like salt. Beaudin expressed cautious optimism, saying he “has no choice but to be confident” that the supplies will hold through the season.
Lanark County Conserves Salt for Critical Needs
Lanark County, a rural area west of Ottawa encompassing communities such as Carleton Place, Maberly, and Perth, is also reducing salt usage to prevent total depletion. Warden Richard Kidd revealed that the county has already consumed over 8,000 tonnes of salt this winter, leaving just 500 tonnes in storage.
Like Brockville, Lanark County will combine salt with sand for general road treatment, reserving pure salt applications for severe ice storms. Kidd explained, “By mixing it with the sand, we’re still meeting all provincial standards.” He added that roads may remain slightly slushy, but this method will extend the limited stockpile further: “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.”
These adjustments highlight the broader impact of the salt shortage across Ontario, as municipalities balance safety requirements with constrained resources during a demanding winter.
