Georgian Bluffs is testing a new brine solution on some of its roads in place of calcium chloride.
The township hopes it will save money and also provide a product that other local municipalities may want to purchase for their own roads.
Mayor Alan Barfoot says the brine solution is a byproduct now being collected in a seven thousand gallon tank at the Shallow Lake water treatment plant after recent upgrades to that facility.
The solution is being applied to some of the municipality’s less-traveled roads as a test to see if it keeps the dust down on those roads as well as or better than the standard calcium chloride.
If it does, the plan is to phase out calcium chloride in favour of the brine solution.
It could save the township quite a bit of money.
Not only that, it could provide a steady source of income if other municipalities are interested in purchasing it from Georgian Bluffs.
Barfoot is the chair of Grey County’s Transportation and Public Safety Committee.
He says Grey County may consider using the solution in the spring and fall as a de-icer on county roads.