DEM Advises Identifying Potential Snow Disposal Sites to Prevent Contamination of Water Supplies this Winter

Published on Tuesday, December 05, 2023

PROVIDENCE, RI – With the region’s temperature cooling and snowfall likely in the coming weeks, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is reminding businesses, households, community groups, and state and local government agencies to begin preparations for snow disposal. DEM has developed updated guidelines to assist organizations with selecting and preparing snow collection sites to minimize impacts on the environment and public health.

Snow collected from roads, parking lots, bridges, and sidewalks may contain harmful contaminants such as road salt, sand, pollutants, and litter that can compromise water supplies. To minimize the risks, DEM advises organizations to:

• Locate snow collection sites near or on permeable (porous) surfaces in upland areas away from water resources and wells. This will allow snowmelt to filter into the soil, leaving behind sand and debris. The latter should be removed as soon as possible, but no later than springtime.
• Prepare and maintain snow collection sites to maximize their effectiveness. Installing a silt fence or sediment barriers on the down-sloping side of the site, maintaining a vegetative buffer between the site and adjacent waterbodies, and clearing away debris before and after using the area for snow disposal are effective preparation techniques.
• Under normal winter conditions, store and dispose of snow only in upland areas and not in or near waterbodies or wetlands. DEM’s updated Snow Disposal Policy includes guidance on emergency disposal of snow under extraordinary circumstances when upland snow storage options are exhausted.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Stout in DEM’s Office of Water Resources via email at Jennifer.Stout@dem.ri.gov or at (401) 222-4700 x2777726.

For more information on DEM programs and services, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.