MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The City of Manitowoc is trying some new methods to prevent slippery roads, and protect the environment, this winter.
Rather than just using salt on its streets and sidewalks, Manitowoc is now using salt brine — essentially, salt water — changing the calibration of its salt trucks and using beet juice.
While it may sound odd, beet juice lowers the freezing point of water even more than the traditional street salt. It also lessens the corrosiveness of the salt.
Manitowoc said Friday that the use of salt harms species diversity in its lakes and streams.
To combat this, the city is giving away cups that say “Be Salt Wise.” The cups hold what the city says is the right amount of salt to treat about 10 sidewalk squares.
Cups can be picked up at City Hall.
