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RobinsShaman t1_j10843b wrote

We really need to find an alternative. It poisons our lakes, steams, and any dirt's near the roads. And cars.

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epsileth t1_j108jcl wrote

Beet brine is an alternative, if you don't mind the murder scene look.

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mrjosemeehan t1_j10mxes wrote

Does that leave sugar rich residue? Because that could have serious environmental impacts itself.

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epsileth t1_j10n7pc wrote

Depends on the mix, but it is probably better than blasting the road with salt.

If you're on a highway with grass on one side, the beet brine doesn't kill plants, so that's a plus.

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madmansmarker OP t1_j109g3j wrote

if you have an image, THIS would make an interesting TIL post

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ash_274 t1_j10st25 wrote

Don't you have to put that down before it snows and it's not as effective as salt after the snow falls?

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epsileth t1_j10xaeb wrote

Before it snows, even after it lowers surface ice melting point.

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balls80082 t1_j11a5bm wrote

I made about 10000 gallons of liquid deicing agent w/ sugar beet today, I can assure you that about 20,000lbs of salt was dissolved, you can’t just use straight beet, 5000 gallons is like 12,000 dollars, it’s not a cost effective solution.

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Morall_tach t1_j109lpv wrote

They use cheese brine in some parts of the Midwest too.

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iBleeedorange t1_j10f17l wrote

Some places use sand

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wwarnout t1_j10iaus wrote

Our area does. It doesn't work quite as well as salt, but it isn't an environmental nightmare, either.

Remember the problem with the water in Flint? This was primarily due to their using salt on the roads, which washed off into streams, which in turn fed rivers - and Flint was getting their drinking water from these rivers.

The corrosive effect of the salty water was so bad that a local General Motors plant had to stop using it to wash their engine parts, because it was corroding the parts. So, imagine drinking that water.

Also, because it was so corrosive, it dissolved the lead in the pipes, which was the main reason it was such a disaster.

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cycleguychopperguy t1_j10r07x wrote

Never mind they didn't use proper corrosion inhibitors because it saved them money since no one was paying there bills....

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square3481 t1_j10rt8p wrote

One of the mayors of Seattle did that over a decade ago, and the bungled response caused him to lose the next election.

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i81u812 t1_j115jce wrote

The salt they used where I lived up in the mountains was agri-safe. I'd imagine most of it doesn't do this anymore but who knows.

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WesternOne9990 t1_j16he98 wrote

Big problem in Minnesota and I think the shallow aquifer under Madison Wisconsin is forever tainted and they recommend pre diabetic and diabetics don’t drink the tap water. (Iirc)

Also they recommend you grease your undercarriage every winter to minimize rust.

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