Get Ready for Winter!

Love it or hate it, winter is quickly approaching in Maine. Winter is a tough time for our stormwater systems due to the large quantities of snow and ice, so it’s important to get prepared before the storms roll in.

Finish up Raking

Make sure fall cleanup is all squared away before the first snow. Leaves surrounding storm drains can lead to clogging, especially once they start to freeze. Save the hassle of chipping frozen leaves by ensuring your nearby storm drains are clear now!

Determine a more frequent shoveling routine

Road salt is a significant pollutant of our waterways. The sodium chloride which makes up road salt causes levels of stress to our aquatic environments even when added in only small quantities. One of the best ways to avoid using excess road salt is to shovel early and often to prevent snow and water from freezing into dangerous ice.

Know how to use salt effectively

Sometimes, road salt is a necessity for safety on our roads and sidewalks. However, road salt isn’t always a cure-all, and sometimes, won’t work on ice. When the temperature drops below 15 degrees, salt significantly loses its ability to melt ice. This means not only is salt an ineffective use of time and money during these conditions, but the excess salt often ends up flowing into storm drains and into our water bodies.

Getting a little preparation done before the first flakes fall will save you time and money while helping keep Portland’s water bodies clean this winter!