A new approach to handling snowstorms
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A new approach to handling snowstorms
(by Erin Patricia Griffiths - February 17, 2009)
Several towns within the Pascack Valley
are working together to investigate a new
approach to handle snowstorms within
their municipalities in a possible joint
services project. The Township of River
Vale already has procedures in place and
has found great success in its use.
River Vale Superintendent of Public Works Rich
Campanelli learned first hand about the benefits of
using salt brine after initiating the project in the
township. Campanelli said he first heard about the
brine solution spraying while attending a class at
Ramapo College with area DPW superintendents
from Bergen and Rockland counties. Interested by
what he learned at the seminar, he contacted
Orangetown to see what procedures are used to Staff Photos By Erin Patricia Griffiths
handle a snowstorm and conducted his own
Under the direction and orchestration of Department of
research into the solution and its success.
Public Works Superintendent Rich Campanelli, the
Township of River Vale initiated deicing procedures in the
After appealing to the township council for
town with the purchase of a 3,000-gallon brine storage tank
funding, approval and support, Campanelli
purchased a 3,000-gallon brine storage tank and and two baths and pump to begin making and storing the
brine solution. The solution is applied to local streets 48
two baths and pump for $17,500 from Reed
hours prior to a storm to prevent packing of snow and ice to
Systems to begin making and storing the brine
the roads.
solution for use on township streets.
“I think the leg work that I’ve done has shown that
the success actually works. It’s made everybody
feel good that they gave me a chance, they gave
us [DPW] a chance, and we’ve continued to move
in a better direction where now other towns want
to be like us,” said Campanelli. “It feels kind of
good that other people are looking at River Vale
and saying, ‘What have you guys done to create
something that is a good situation for everybody,
and can we do the same?’
Although the project is still in the early stages and
officials do not anticipate the procedures being
organized and executed until next winter, area
towns including the Township of Washington,
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Hillsdale, Park Ridge and Westwood are
considering the use of salt brine on local roads.
Representatives from Emerson, Hillsdale, Westwood, and
the Township of Washington’s Department of Public Works
traveled to Clarkstown, N.Y. to see the equipment used and
The procedure includes the application of a
procedures executed by the highway department to improve
pre-storm brine mixture to local streets and hills to the streets for safety while traveling during a snowstorm.
melt the first inch to inch and a half of falling snow, Pictured from left, Washington Township DPW
and prevent residual ice and snow from becoming Superintendent Bob Hamilton, Washington Township
packed down on the street surfaces, unable to be Councilman Bob Schroeder, Westwood DPW Superintendent
Rick Woods, Emerson DPW Superintendent Joe Solimando,
plowed or dissolved with salting.
Clarkstown Highway Department Superintendent Wayne T.
The application of the brine would require either Ballard, and Hillsdale DPW Superintendent Keith Durie.
the conversion of a truck with a spray bar to apply the solution, or the purchase of a truck specifically built to
spray the brine.
To begin their investigation into a brine solution initiative, members of a Township of Washington
sub-committee, comprised of Department of Municipal Facilities Director Richard Koesel, Councilman Robert
Schroeder, and Council President Charles Devine, visited the department of public works site in Clarkstown,
N.Y. on Thursday, Jan. 8. The sub-committee met with operations workers to see what procedures they
execute to prepare for a storm. The Clarkstown Highway Department uses trucks that spray the salt brine
solution onto the streets, coating the roads 48-hours prior to a snowstorm to prevent ice from developing.
The township received a complimentary spray truck and driver from Clarkstown for a trial run to see how the
procedure affects the roads in a storm. The treatment was applied to several areas within the township, mostly
main roads and hills. Approximately 2,000 gallons of the brine liquid was sprayed throughout various parts of
the town.
The sub-committee members were not told where the salt-brine was applied, so that they could drive the
streets themselves during the snowstorm to see if they observed a noticeable difference between pre-treated
streets and non-pre-treated areas.
According to the council and subcommittee members, the difference was significant and all members who
investigated the procedure found a noticeable distinction between treated and non-treated areas. “It was
apparent where this liquid was applied to. You could see black and white,” said Schroeder during the public
hearing at a Jan. 13 Hillsdale Council Meeting.
The positive results of the trial brine spraying increased the interest of the Township of Washington Council and
sub-committee members in their consideration of converting an existing truck or purchasing a brine spraying
truck.
After sharing their research and trial findings, other Pascack Valley towns expressed an interest in a possible
joint services venture. A second trip was taken to the Clarkstown Highway Department, with representation
from Emerson, Hillsdale, Westwood, and the Washington Township’s departments of public works.
Clarkstown Highway Department Superintendent Wayne T. Ballard gave a presentation to the visiting
superintendents to show the procedures and safety measures executed by his department during a snowstorm.
According to Ballard, the department began applying salt brine to the streets of Clarkstown three and half years
ago. The New York State DEC put the department under a watchful eye after discovering a leaking
underground storage tank on the site of the facilities. In addition, salt spillage and residue from washing trucks
was entering a nearby stream, causing salt levels in water to be higher than permitted. In an effort to address
these issues, the department began researching new initiatives in Colorado, and Orangetown and Yonkers,
N.Y.
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The salt brine system used by Clarkstown takes captured storm water and runoff from the truck washing bay
on site, mixes the reclaimed water with salt until the solution reaches approximately 23 percent sodium content,
and stores it in tanks on the site. This solution is then loaded into trucks for application 48 hours prior to a
storm.
All parties in attendance of the second trip to the Clarkstown Highway Department were visibly impressed by
the facilities and the procedures executed for preventing snow and ice from packing during a storm.
Towns within the Pascack Valley are still in discussion about the possibility of shared services for applying the
brine solution to the streets to improve safety for travel during snowstorms, either joining River Vale in its
services or converting existing equipment for additional use. “Everybody expressed an interest and we are
currently looking into potential shared services,” said Devine.
Erin Patricia Griffiths' e-mail address is [email protected]
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