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When “used snow” becomes an environmental hazard
“Used snow management.” Yes, just when you thought you had heard of every possible environmental issue, along comes another one – the white menace. Despite our changing climate, snow dumps have been and will continue to be essential elements of most municipalities’ infrastructure. In the boonies, where townships plow but do not remove accumulated snow from the sides of roads, snow dumps are not an issue. In the country, winging back the banks periodically is enough to elim- inate any visibility problems created by towering snow banks. This practice is not always good for mail boxes, but hey, it is winter in Canada, eh? Alas, in towns and villages, where snow storage space is rare, allowing large mounds to accumulate is not an option. So many municipalities send in crews to collect the snow and dump it somewhere. Of course, there are logistical reasons for clearing the white stuff from curbs and sidewalks. But there is also a psychological benefit to having a nice clean street. Think of it: It is February. The days are getting longer but Old Man Winter is still hanging around. You have had it with the fluctuating temperatures, the wind chill, the thaw, the freeze, the slush, the salt. You look outside the window and all you see is snow. Claustrophobia is about to set in. But, wait, buck up, here comes the snow removal crew. Soon you will be able to find the sidewalk again. The sun is shining. You whistle a happy tune and start perusing seed catalogues. A trip to doldrums land has been averted. Life is good. A sound snow removal system can also do wonders for the entire planet, because used snow is a hazard. As every child knows, the first snow of the winter is dangerous to eat. But after that first fall is out of the way, you are safe to stand out in a blizzard, face the sky and fill up with flakes as if they were an elixir from the heavens. But once that stuff has hit the ground, you never want to put it near your mouth. You have no idea what disgusting things may be concealed in that seemingly in- nocuous ivory substance. Of course, some people, such as govern- ment officials, have a good idea what po- tential dangers lurk in fallen snow. That is why environmental authorities have been encouraging municipalities to clean up their act when it comes to de- positing used snow. For decades, Hawkesbury has used two snow dumps, which, unfortunately, are lo- cated beside the Ottawa River. The town has been well aware of the potential problems presented by the loca- tion of the dumping zones. In fact, in March, 2009, Marc Robert, sen- ior environmental officer with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, stressed that
Hawkesbury had to find a new environ- mentally-friendly site soon. “The snow dump along Main Street East, across from Chamberlain Street and directly adjacent to the Ottawa River, is a particularly poor location,” he wrote. “The property’s steep grade directs the flow of contaminated runoff from the melting snow directly towards and into the river. Garbage and trash inadvertently picked up during snow removal operations and dumped on the property can also enter the river or accumulate along its bank.” He added: “With proper site selection and operation, the Ministry of the Environment considers the disposal of waste snow on land as the most preferable method of handling this waste.” The ministry likes the idea of the town setting up a dump in the industrial park, on Tupper Street. “At this location, re- fuse could be retained and collected for proper disposal and, more importantly, contaminated runoff to watercourses would be eliminated,”wrote Robert. Hawkesbury is moving towards a solution, and likely a controversy. At this writing, the municipality is consid- ering its options for other dump locations in town, or a possible partnership with neigh- bouring Champlain Township. The answer appears to be straight-forward. You find a large vacant piece of land far from watercourses and people and you put the used snow there. But nothing is simple. Whenever real estate or deposits of any sort are involved, the key is location. During a recent discussion at council, coun- cillors were divided over the best course of ac- tion. Why would the town waste a good piece of industrial property to create a waste facility? The short answer is that it does not have much space available. The snow dump solution may create a new set of problems, since no matter where it is located, the facility will have an impact on its new neighbours. It may be premature for the “Not In My Back- yard” chorus. However, it is no picnic to live in the vicinity of a snow dump, as one resident pointed out to council recently. A snow dump is, after all, a busy and noisy spot, where trucks and heavy equipment are constantly working. And it contains an assortment of debris that is not good for human, beast or the environ- ment. A joint venture with Champlain, a notion that so far has gone nowhere, has its merits. Relations between the municipalities have in the past been cool but a rapprochement has taken place as both councils realize their eco- nomic development futures are linked. At the best of times, governments tend to move at the pace of an iceberg. The long-term answer to the white men- ace would be a regional facility. But many winters will pass, and many tonnes of dirty snow will melt, before this becomes a reality.
Photo Richard Mahoney
« C’était comme un coup de 410 », dit Carl Poirier, faisait référence au bruit que cette dinde a fait quand elle a frappé le parebrise de son véhicule mardi après-midi. M. Po- irier n’a pas subi des blessures mais la dinde sauvage été tuée par l’impact. M. Poirier, qui avait amené son véhicule chez Richard Auto Glass à Hawkesbury afin de remplac- er son parebrise, explique qu’il roulait sur l’autoroute 50 près de Grenville quand il y a rencontré un troupeau de dindes sauvages.
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