Dayton, Ohio – The City of Dayton has stepped up its winter road maintenance strategy with a more environmentally conscious approach. In an effort to reduce harmful road salt runoff into local streams, rivers, and lakes, the city has begun using a new brine production system—an initiative made possible through funding from the Ohio EPA’s H2Ohio Chloride Reduction grant.
The new equipment includes a brine maker capable of producing 6,000 gallons per hour and a 9,500-gallon polyethylene storage tank. This infrastructure allows the City of Dayton’s Department of Public Works to produce and store its own supply of salt brine, a mixture of road salt and water used to prevent and treat snow and ice accumulation. Previously, the city relied on Montgomery County’s production facility and transported brine by truck to its treatment areas, a process that was more labor-intensive and less efficient.
Road salt, or sodium chloride, may seem helpful on icy streets, but once it dissolves, it separates into sodium and chloride ions. Elevated chloride levels in nearby water sources are especially harmful, with toxic effects on fish, amphibians, and other aquatic life. Since all of Dayton’s streets and highways drain directly into local waterways, cutting back on salt use has become a key goal in the city’s environmental efforts.
This change is expected to benefit not just aquatic ecosystems but also urban landscapes, as excess salt can harm lawns, gardens, and tree roots near treated roadways.
“We are excited about reducing the environmental impact of our winter road treatment operations and grateful for the resources provided by the Ohio EPA H2Ohio grant,” said Tom Ritchie, Jr., Director of Dayton’s Department of Public Works.
By creating and using its own salt brine, Dayton hopes to lead by example in demonstrating how smart investment in infrastructure can support both public safety and environmental sustainability during winter months.
