Professional Ice Management & Salting Services in Cambridge

Cambridge Ice Management & Salting Regulations

Cambridge’s 6-hour snow clearing requirement extends beyond mechanical snow removal to include ice management and anti-icing treatments, ensuring safe passage throughout winter weather events. Professional salting services provide precise material application using calibrated equipment, temperature-appropriate de-icer selection, and environmental compliance protocols protecting Cambridge’s drinking water sources, the Charles River, Fresh Pond Reservoir, Alewife Brook, and the city’s urban forest canopy from chemical contamination while maintaining legally-required pedestrian safety standards.

Cambridge Water Department
250 Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617) 349-4770
Official Website: Cambridge Water Department

Massachusetts Wellhead Protection Zones and Storage Restrictions

Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations 310 CMR 22.21(2)(b) impose strict prohibitions and storage requirements for de-icing chemicals within designated wellhead protection zones safeguarding public drinking water supplies.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
One Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 292-5500
Official Website: MassDEP Wellhead Protection

Zone I Requirements (400-foot radius from wellhead): Storage of sodium chloride, chemically treated abrasives, or de-icing chemicals is prohibited unless contained within completely enclosed, watertight buildings with impermeable floors and spill containment systems.

Zone II Requirements (primary aquifer recharge area): De-icer storage allowed with secondary containment systems, concrete or asphalt impermeable storage pads, covered storage structures preventing rainwater contact, and regular monitoring protocols.

MassDEP guidelines prohibit storage or disposal of snow containing de-icing chemicals within Zone A and Zone II wellhead protection areas. Salt-contaminated snow must be transported to designated disposal sites with controlled drainage.

EPA Clean Water Act and Massachusetts Stormwater Standards

De-icing chemicals entering municipal stormwater drainage systems constitute water quality pollutants regulated under federal Clean Water Act provisions and Massachusetts stormwater management regulations. Cambridge’s separated storm sewer system discharges runoff directly to receiving waters without treatment.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (888) 372-7341
Official Website: EPA Region 1

The Cambridge Department of Public Works operates Cambridge’s municipal separated storm sewer system, collecting rainwater, snowmelt, and ice melt runoff and conveying this drainage without treatment directly to the Charles River, Alewife Brook, and Mystic River. All de-icing chemicals applied to streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways flow untreated into receiving waters.

310 CMR 10.05(6) requires commercial properties, industrial facilities, and large parking lots to develop Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) documenting winter maintenance practices, de-icer application rates, and pollution minimization strategies.

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
100 First Avenue, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
Phone: (617) 242-6000
Official Website: Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority manages regional water supply protecting Fresh Pond Reservoir, Charles River, and connected watersheds from contamination. Report clogged catch basins to Cambridge Water Department at (617) 349-4770. Report illegal dumping or improper disposal to EPA Region 1 at (888) 372-7341 or Massachusetts DEP at (617) 292-5500.

Urban Forest Protection and Vegetation Salt Damage Prevention

De-icing salt causes extensive damage to Cambridge’s urban forest through root zone contamination, foliar spray injury, and soil structure degradation. Cambridge Parks and Recreation Department manages approximately thousands of street trees requiring protection from winter maintenance chemical damage.

Cambridge Department of Public Works – Parks & Urban Forestry
147 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: (617) 349-4800
Official Website: Cambridge Parks & Urban Forestry

Visible Salt Injury Symptoms:

• Branch dieback starting at twig tips
• Yellowing or browning of evergreen needles
• Delayed spring bud break and reduced leaf size
• Bark splitting and crown thinning

Protective Measures:

• Wrap burlap screens around shrubs near driveways and sidewalks
• Apply heavy irrigation (2-3 inches water) in April-May leaching accumulated salt from root zones
• Broadcast gypsum at 50 pounds per 1,000 square feet in October
• Maintain 2-4 inch mulch layer over root zones
• Select salt-tolerant species: Austrian pine, Japanese black pine, red oak, honey locust, rugosa rose

Cambridge Community Development Department – Environmental & Transportation Planning
344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: (617) 349-4604
Official Website: Cambridge Community Development Department

Professional Salting Services Throughout Cambridge Neighborhoods

Harvard Square / Mid-Cambridge: High pedestrian density and historic brick sidewalks require the use of minimal chloride de-icers and calibrated application rates to protect the Charles River watershed and avoid damage to mature street trees and legacy paving materials.

West Cambridge: Proximity to Fresh Pond Reservoir and Alewife Brook demands heightened water quality protection and strict compliance with wellhead protection zone storage restrictions. Salting operations must prioritize low-chloride alternatives and prevent runoff toward reservoir recharge areas.

East Cambridge: Dense commercial and residential development with frequent storm drain inlets increases the risk of chloride loading to the Charles River. Careful material management and immediate post-storm street sweeping help limit pollutant transfer to water bodies.

North Cambridge: Residential streets bordering Alewife Reservation and wetlands require special consideration to avoid runoff impacts on sensitive wetland and riparian habitat. Pre-application brining and restricted sodium chloride use help protect local ecosystems.

Cambridgeport: Riverfront location along the Charles River necessitates rapid ice removal using environmentally sensitive materials to prevent direct runoff into the river and minimize cumulative chloride impacts on aquatic environments.

Riverside: Narrow streets and mature tree canopy call for reduced de-icer application rates and regular monitoring for salt injury symptoms. Use of salt-tolerant tree species and root zone protection measures is critical in these neighborhoods.

Porter Square / Neighborhood Nine: Heavy pedestrian traffic and mixed-use infrastructure require anti-icing strategies that balance safety with protection of stormwater drains leading to the Mystic River watershed. Application rates must consider permeable surfaces and nearby school and park facilities.

Agassiz / Peabody: Proximity to Harvard University and historic properties necessitates preservation of old-growth trees and brickwork, best achieved through calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) alternatives, targeted application, and runoff capture where feasible.