The town of Harrisville has announced a new method for treating roads due to a significant shortage of road salt this season, as shared through a recent Facebook advisory. The highway crew will begin applying a liquid melting solution based on magnesium chloride, which is expected to be less corrosive to vehicles, more environmentally friendly, and less harmful to pets and greenery.

Municipal services director and road agent Steve LaMears indicated that the solution is being utilized to pre-treat road surfaces to prevent snow from adhering and forming ice. He pointed out the advantage of using liquid over traditional salt as it allows for targeted application; when salt is spread, it may disperse across the road, whereas the liquid solution tends to remain in place after spreading.

In support of similar sustainability efforts, Keene plans to initiate its own testing program using the magnesium chloride solution from Innovative Surface Solutions. The city’s Public Works Director Donald Lussier articulated that the project seeks not only to address supply issues seen with traditional road salt but more importantly aims to minimize the environmental impact of chlorides from salt. Rising chloride levels in the city’s monitoring wells have raised concerns regarding groundwater and the ecosystem, prompting the city to implement this new strategy.

Lussier noted that the magnesium chloride application will cover around 30 miles on major streets in Keene, including Main Street and West Street, utilizing equipment mounted on trucks.

Additionally, Joe DiRusso, the public works director in Swanzey, explained his cautious approach to road salt application, preferring to wait for snow to settle to minimize waste from drifting salt. Although currently not utilizing a liquid option for de-icing, he stated he may consider it in the future.

In a broader context, the New Hampshire Executive Council approved a significant contract in 2024 with Innovative Surface Solutions to ensure the availability of liquid magnesium chloride for state roadways. Salt reduction program coordinator Aubrey Voelker from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services highlighted the environmental benefits of using this liquid treatment, emphasizing its capability to lessen the amount of chloride that seeps into local water bodies, many of which are already failing to meet EPA standards for chloride levels.

Voelker’s department is actively involved in certifying municipalities and private organizations in practices aimed at reducing salt usage, reinforcing the objective to address over-application of road salt to improve water quality.

The initiatives in Harrisville and Keene are part of a larger trend among New Hampshire towns to seek alternatives that prioritize both public safety and environmental conservation.