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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

SAL-6

Central Lake Ontario, Credit Valley, Toronto

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MTO - Salt

Strategic

Establish Pilot Programs

Future & Existing

In progress/some progress made

MTO continues to evaluate new products and technologies to minimize the impact of winter maintenance on the environment including reducing salt applications rates when prewetting or pre-treating the salt. MTO is evaluating new application rates for pre-wetted salt and sand, as well as, conducting research and pilots for finding alternative non-chloride winter materials. These are generic testing that would apply across the province once the final results are determined.

MTO - Salt

Strategic

Govern Research

Future & Existing

In progress/some progress made

MTO continues to evaluate new products and technologies to minimize the impact of winter maintenance on the environment including reducing salt applications rates when prewetting or pre-treating the salt. MTO is evaluating new application rates for pre-wetted salt and sand, as well as, conducting research and pilots for finding alternative non-chloride winter materials. These are generic testing that would apply across the province once the final results are determined.

MTO - Salt

Strategic

Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives

Future & Existing

Implemented

There are various components to this policy including Specify Action, Research and Pilot Programs. Each component has a its own implementation status as follows: SAL-6 (Specify Action): Implemented SAL-6 (Research): In progress/some progress made SAL-6 (Pilot Program): In progress/some progress made RESPONSE to Question (Specify Action): Contractors working on the provincial highway network are required to conform to the Salt Management Plan. Training is provided annually before the start of the winter season to all of MTO’s maintenance contractors. The MTO provincial Salt Management Plan contains best management practices to ensure application rate, timing and location of salt to reduce the potential for salt-related surface water run-off and groundwater infiltration. MTO ensures the Salt Management Plan meets the objectives of Environment Canada's Code of Practice for Environmental Management of Road Salts. The MTO Salt Management Plan ensures the best available winter maintenance practices are implemented to ensure safe driving conditions on the provincial highway network, and consideration is given to local environmental protection including drinking water sources. Road salt best management practices have been developed by government and industry, primarily through the Transportation Association of Canada's Syntheses of Best Practices: Road Salt Management framework, and Environment and Climate Change Canada's Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts. The best management practices typically included in a Road Salt Management Plan are proven and science -based. MTO’s best management practices for the environmental management of road salt include use of: •Road and Weather Information Stations for monitoring and forecasting winter weather and highway conditions in order to apply the right amount of salt at the right times. •Pre-wetted/pre-treated road salt and direct liquid application to increase the efficiency of the de-icing agent and reduce the amount of road salt applied to the surface. •Electronic spreader controls to ensure the right amount of de-icing agent is applied for the local conditions. MTO continually reviews standards, new technology, equipment and materials to optimize winter maintenance practices. Maintenance operations have evolved significantly over time. New technology, such as the Road and Weather Information Stations, are used to predict winter storms and assist with planning and deploying maintenance equipment and materials. New products such as pre-wetted salt and equipment innovations like automatic spreader controllers enhance the effectiveness of operations and decrease environmental impacts. The MTO Salt Management Plan was updated in April 2017. It is consistent with the Environment Canada Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts, the Transportation Association of Canada Salt Management Guide and Syntheses of Best Practices, and the MTO Maintenance Standards Specifications and associated standards are appropriately referred to and up -to-date. The Salt Management Plan includes measures that protect water sources from the impacts of road salt through implementation of best salt management practices, opportunities for innovation and technology, and consideration of salt vulnerable areas when implementing strategies for reducing salt impacts. A copy of the MTO updated Salt Management Plan was distributed to all Source Water Protection organizations. The intention of the policy is effective for ensuring the threat ceases to be or does not become significant. However, consideration should also be given towards local land use types to determine if there are additional opportunities to improve source water protection (e.g. chlorides entering the environment from fertilizers).

Policy Text:

For provincial highways where the application of road salt is, or would be, a significant drinking water threat in any of the following areas:

WHPA-A (existing, future); or
WHPA-B (VS = 10) (existing, future); or
WHPA-E (VS = 9) (existing, future); or
the remainder of an Issue Contributing Area for Sodium or Chloride (existing, future);

the Ministry of Transportation should:
a) continue the proactive implementation of their salt management plans with their supporting de-icing contactors and the use of best management practices within wellhead protection areas;
b) update their salt management plan, as required, to ensure consistency with the most current versions of Environment Canada's Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts and Transportation Association of Canada's Synthesis of Best Practices;
c) investigate and implement where practical, alternative products and mitigation practices and technologies for road salt application and the management of highway runoff and infiltration;
d) in consultation with the Source Protection Authority, consider the information contained in the CTC Source Protection Assessment Reports for the siting and prioritization of future assessments related to road salt application and the management of highway runoff and infiltration. In particular, an assessment of application rates and options for reducing the application of salt should be undertaken at those wells in Orangeville immediately adjacent to Highways 9 and 10; and
e) forward upon request to the Source Protection Authority the results of monitoring data on specific pilot projects.

Timeline:
T-15: The policy shall be considered within 2 years from the date the Source Protection Plan takes effect.

Monitoring Text:

MON-4: The provincial ministry shall, by February 1 of each year, prepare and submit a report to the Source Protection Authority on the actions taken in the previous calendar year to achieve the outcomes of the source protection policy. Reporting shall include information related to the effectiveness of the policies in ensuring a threat ceases to be, or does not become significant, and any actions required to respond to a drinking water threat during the reporting period.