Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
If the city streets seem less slippery this winter, thank beets for the good conditions.
Warsaw Public Works Superintendent Lacy Francis Jr. has been adding a compound called "De-Ice" to the rock salt used to keep frozen water off asphalt surfaces. Derived from sugar beets, the additive is beneficial in many ways, Francis said.
"The residue adheres to the asphalt longer and continues working with a fresh snowfall. When we have a slight snow it saves us some time. It doesn't leave salt 'dust' on the streets or vehicles."
Safer for the environment because it's derived from plants, it is less toxic to roadside vegetation.
Francis began experimenting with the brown substance three years ago, initially applying the mix to downtown streets. He gradually added side streets. Satisfied with the results, all the city streets receive a coating or two of the compound now.
If the material has been applied before a heavy snow the plows can remove snow down to the asphalt. With a freezing point of minus 31-degrees F, salt's melting capacity is greatly enhanced. There are very few areas crews have to go back and hit with salt again, because the material is still there and working.
Francis has already seen cost savings in terms of hours spent plowing, equipment repairs and expenses for material.
Salt is naturally corrosive. With rock salt applications the resulting dust would stick to anything moving over it. There's virtually no dust when De-Ice is added to the salt. This means less wear and tear on city equipment as well as to citizen's vehicles.
"Salt is still salt, but you don't have the high cutting agent that's really corrosive, that will eat metal away. The streets aren't white with salt dust anymore.
"It's saving me from 30 to 40 percent in salt consumption. A light rain will wash salt away. It takes a couple of heavy rains to wash the compound away.
"Salt is $42 a ton. The De-Ice material is $2.92 per gallon. I add three gallons of the material to a ton of salt."
The sugar beet extract has been used extensively in the eastern states and word has eventually come this way, Francis said.
"It doesn't have any of the hard metals or cutting agents other de-icing material has. With the state's Phase 4 and Rule 13 regulating storm water and what goes in catch basins, we have to watch what we're putting on the streets. Hard, corrosive metal additives will be a thing of the past. Some states are banning them already. It's coming, you can almost see the writing on the walls."
Francis said the rock salt acts like a sponge, which surprised him a little. "When we add the material, we can see the salt gradually absorbing the color. It's like a chain reaction."
Because of the brown color Francis is not ready to go with 100 percent De-Ice on the streets. "Until residents are educated, that we're not putting dirt or sand on the streets, the change will be slow."
