On behalf of a public organization, HDS assessed the risk of environmental impact related to road salts across ten (10) Road Salt Storage and Handling Centers (RSSHC) located near vulnerable zones. The mandate combined field audits, water sampling (surface and groundwater), regulatory review (Rneige), and costed action plans to reduce environmental impacts and support continuous improvement.
Several centers were constructed prior to the current regulatory framework (Rneige). Consequently, they were not designed to meet modern requirements (sealing/waterproofing, water collection, abrasive storage), even though they are located near sensitive receptors such as wetlands, watercourses, private wells, and flood zones.
Handling operations (loading/mixing), outdoor storage of abrasives, and the varying condition of paved surfaces can generate runoff high in salts (chlorides/sodium) and suspended solids. This poses potential risks to surface water, wetlands, and local private wells not connected to the municipal aqueduct.
To guide an improvement program, a comparable profile across all sites is required: standardized audits, outlet identification, sampling data, and structured findings. Without this foundation, prioritizing investments (collection, drainage, covering, repairs) remains difficult to justify and plan.
HDS conducted field audits, completed characterization sheets based on best practices, and prepared summary maps for each center (buildings, handling areas, abrasives, drainage, outlets, sensitive receptors). This provided a comparable and actionable diagnosis for each of the ten (10) RSSHCs targeted by the mandate.
The mandate included surface water sampling at presumed outlets (and occasionally upstream/downstream) as well as groundwater sampling via on-site wells or from participating neighboring residents. Analyses focused on TSS and PH C10-C50 (per Rneige references), along with salinity indicators (chlorides, sodium, conductivity) to quantify salt influence.
HDS verified relevant Rneige requirements (Articles 8 to 11) and proposed an action plan for each center describing: impact reduction measures, site layout options (waterproofing, clean water diversion, collection/capture), operational requirements (inspection, sampling, registries), and summary budget estimates with inter-site prioritization.
The client now possesses a structured diagnosis for ten (10) RSSHCs, detailing environmental issues, sensitive points, outlets, surface conditions, and operational practices. This shared baseline facilitates the proactive management of impacts associated with the road salt life cycle.
Costed and prioritized action plans transform observations into decisions: what to do, where to act first, and which projects/studies to launch to move toward more robust practices and regulatory compliance.
By combining audits, sampling, and operational recommendations (inspections, registries, abrasive management, water collection), the project equips the client to reduce saline discharges, better protect sensitive environments, and standardize practices across all its centers.
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