What are those brown domes?
According to Canada Salt Group Ltd., the structures are used to store massive amounts of road salt for snowstorms. States and municipalities need a lot of salt to keep roads safe and ice-free during the winter.
Why is road salt kept in a dome?
A salt dome’s narrow entrance offers extra protection from the elements… “Because salt is corrosive, there’s a lot of wood. Using steel isn’t clever in a building used to store salt, and concrete has to be well protected,” says Mr Lugg.
How long can road salt be stored?
Because salt – sodium chloride – is an essential mineral, it can never spoil. This is the reason salt has been used as a food preservative and seasoning for thousands of years. If stored properly, salt can last indefinitely. So there is no need to use it all up before the end of the winter season.
How do they fill a salt dome?
Most salt storage structures are filled by pushing the salt into the building with a front-end loader. But if the buyer plans on pouring the salt into the dome through a top opening, Monolithic will construct the salt storage with an opening at the top.
What is a salt box on the side of the road?
There are tens of thousands of local authority owned and maintained grit bins in use around the country. The purpose of the local authority grit bins is to allow road users, pedestrians and parish councils to apply rock salt to potentially dangerous sections of roads as necessary during periods of icy or snowy weather.
How do you store rock salt in bulk?
The best way to store salt is to keep it away from moisture. So, the salt storage container should not permit water or damp in. The container should be able to stay sealed for a long time without contaminating the salt or allowing moisture in.
Can you leave rock salt outside?
The Science of Storing Salt Stockpiles of salt should never be exposed to any types of rain or snow, from both above or below. Although the moisture that is absorbed will likely evaporate over time, the affected salt will clump and a layer of crust will result on the outside layer of your pile.
How do you store road salt?
When you buy road salt in sacks, these should be kept dry and in a covered place so they are not exposed to rain or snow. This is because when salt absorbs moisture, it sticks together. Of course, you should also store dry salt in bulk in a place that is free of humidity.
What is gritting the road?
Gritting involves spreading rock salt on the roads to prevent ice forming and, during heavy snowfalls, snow ploughs may be used to clear snow. Salting is done when it is not raining to avoid the grit being washed away. If rainwater freezes quickly ice can form before our teams have completed their routes.