Media Advisory

HRM Testing New Anti-Icing Product

(Monday, January 30, 2006)-- HRM ice/snow crews will be conducting trials with a liquid additive to road salt to test its effectiveness in winter operations.

Geomelt® is a all organic liquid anti-icing agricultural product . When mixed with salt brines, it lowers the freezing point of the brine.

“We will be conducting trails over the next couple of weeks in all three (East, West and Central) regions,” says Gordon Hayward, Coordinator, Ice/Snow Program. “ In the West Region, we will be mixing it directly into our brine tanks in our pre-wetting operations. In Central and East, we will be spraying it directly onto our stockpiles of salt and sand.”

Mr. Hayward says residents may notice a brownish tinge to the road salt, and possibly a sweetish odour, in their area. Geomelt® is an all organic product , non-corrosive, friendly to the environment, and human contact.

Note: West Region is basically Halifax and Timberlea areas; Central Region is Bedford, Sackville and Fall River areas; and East Region is Dartmouth, Cole Harbor and Eastern Passage areas.)

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Gordon Hayward
Coordinator, Ice/Snow Program
490-4956

John O’Brien
Manager, Corporate Communications
490-6531