Professional Ice Management & Salting Services in Sudbury

Sudbury Ice Management & Salting Regulations

Sudbury’s 12-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 Sudbury’s drinking water sources, including the Sudbury River, Hop Brook, Willis Pond, and Grist Mill Pond, as well as the town’s urban forest canopy from chemical contamination while maintaining legally-required pedestrian safety standards.

Sudbury Water District
199 Raymond Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
Phone: (978) 443-6602
Official Website: Sudbury Water District

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. Sudbury’s separated storm sewer system discharges runoff directly to receiving waters without treatment, including the Sudbury River, Hop Brook, and associated ponds.

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 Sudbury Water District operates Sudbury’s municipal separated storm sewer system collecting rainwater, snowmelt, and ice melt runoff and conveying this drainage without treatment directly to the Sudbury River, Hop Brook, and local wetlands. All de-icing chemicals applied to streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways flow untreated into these 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.

Sudbury Water District
199 Raymond Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
Phone: (978) 443-6602
Official Website: Sudbury Water District

Sudbury Water District manages regional water supply protecting the Sudbury River, local ponds, and groundwater aquifers from contamination. Report clogged catch basins to Sudbury Water District at (978) 443-6602. 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 Sudbury’s urban forest through root zone contamination, foliar spray injury, and soil structure degradation. Sudbury Parks and Recreation Department manages approximately thousands of street trees requiring protection from winter maintenance chemical damage.

Sudbury Parks, Recreation & Aquatics Department
40 Fairbank Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
Phone: (978) 443-1092
Official Website: Sudbury Parks, Recreation & Aquatics Department

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

Sudbury Planning & Community Development Department
278 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
Phone: (978) 639-3387
Official Website: Sudbury Planning & Community Development Department

Professional Salting Services Throughout Sudbury Neighborhoods

Historic Town Center: The Town Center Historic District requires careful salting to protect 18th and 19th-century brick sidewalks, granite curbing, and mature shade trees. Use of calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) and reduced sodium chloride application rates is recommended to preserve historic infrastructure and avoid damage to heritage trees.

North Sudbury (Nobscot Area): Proximity to the Sudbury River and Nobscot Conservation Land means anti-icing must minimize chloride runoff. Storm drain density along Concord Road and adjacent wetlands requires brine applications to reduce environmental impacts and protect sensitive aquatic habitats.

Pine Lakes: Residential streets near Willis Pond and Grist Mill Pond are especially vulnerable to salt-laden runoff entering freshwater ecosystems. Precise application and prompt removal of contaminated snow are essential to safeguard local water quality and amphibian habitats.

South Sudbury: Commercial corridors with large parking areas near Route 20 demand compliance with SWPPP requirements, as runoff flows toward Hop Brook and adjacent vernal pools. Use of calibrated spreaders and real-time pavement temperature monitoring helps prevent over-application and protects downstream wetlands.

Meadow Walk & Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Area: Mixed-use developments and high-traffic pedestrian routes next to conservation land require environmentally sensitive de-icing, especially where stormwater drains directly to Hop Brook. Vegetation and native tree plantings must be shielded from splash and runoff injury.

Willis Hills: Elevated neighborhoods with significant slopes and proximity to private wells require extra attention to prevent de-icing material migration into recharge areas. Secondary containment for salt storage and use of alternative de-icers is recommended in Zone II aquifer protection areas.

Lincoln-Sudbury High School & Curtis Middle School Zones: School campuses with expansive paved surfaces are near stormwater outfalls to adjacent wetlands and the Sudbury River. Frequent pedestrian use and proximity to sensitive resources require minimized application rates and strict adherence to drainage management protocols.

Goodnow Farms: Subdivisions with mature tree canopies and landscaped buffers benefit from pre-storm brining and post-storm cleanup to prevent salt accumulation in root zones and protect ornamental plantings.