Transport and Fate Processes of Road Salt in Urban Areas

这项研究计划的总体目标是更好地保护城市分水岭的可持续和安全的饮用水水源和淡水水生生态系统，使其免受加拿大每年用于冬季道路维护的500万吨道路盐的新威胁。这项研究将促进对冰雪融化过程(热融化、雨雪融化和盐致融化)以及不同类型冬季风暴(干雪、湿雪、冻雨或雪上雨)的氯离子洗脱率的科学认识，以便更准确地计算城市流域地表径流和地下水补给中的氯离子浓度。这项研究将有助于开发新的、实用和可行的方法，以最大限度地减少城市流域道路盐的潜在负面环境影响。具体地说，这项研究将集中在改进科学的识别方法和计算关键来源对敏感受体和 将提高知识，以便更有效地利用现有的实时天气预报和道路天气信息系统，以优化道路盐分施用量；优化预湿和直接液体除冰剂的应用，以实现更均匀的路面牵引，并将盐分降至最低；利用无线实时盐车监测和操作系统，更好地保护盐分脆弱地区；以及开发创新设计的地下蓄水池，以捕获和控制释放受污染的径流，以保护盐分脆弱地区。这些发现的主要结果将是加拿大盐管理实践的进步和环境保护的改善。该研究计划将在项目的五年期间支持两名博士生、两名硕士、一名博士后和五名本科生，他们将为市政当局、道路当局和私人承包商开发新技术，包括新软件和专利，预计将为加拿大带来就业和收入。

The overarching goal of this research program is to better protect sustainable and safe drinking water sources and freshwater aquatic ecosystems in urban watersheds from the emerging threat of the 5 million tonnes of road salt that is applied annually in Canada for winter road maintenance. This research will advance scientific knowledge on the ice and snow melt processes (the thermal melt, rain-on-snow melt, and the salt-induced melt) and the chloride wash-off rate for various types of winter storms (dry snow, wet snow, freezing rain, or rain on snow) to more accurately calculate the chloride concentrations in both surface runoff as well as the groundwater recharge in urban watersheds. This research will assist in the development of novel, practical and feasible methods to minimize potential negative environmental effects of road salt application in urban watersheds. Specifically, this research will focus on improvement of the scientific methods of identification of the "salt vulnerable areas" and calculation of the contribution of the key sources to the sensitive receptors and will advance knowledge for more effective use of the available real-time weather forecasts and the road weather information systems to optimize the road salt application rates; to optimize pre-wetting and direct liquid de-icer application to achieve a more uniform road surface traction with the least amount of salt; to take advantage of the wireless real-time salt truck monitoring and operation systems to better protect salt vulnerable areas; and to develop innovative design of underground detention tanks for capture and controlled release of contaminated runoff to protect the salt vulnerable areas. The main outcome from these findings will be advancement of salt management practice and improved environmental protection in Canada. This research program will support two doctoral students, two masters students, one postdoctoral fellow and five undergraduate students, over the five year duration of the project, who will develop new technology for the municipalities, road authorities and for the private contractors, including new software and patents that is expected to result in jobs and income for Canada.