Professional Ice Management & Salting Services in Plymouth

Plymouth Ice Management & Salting Regulations

Plymouth’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 Plymouth’s drinking water sources, including Plymouth Harbor, Eel River, Town Brook, and Great Herring Pond, as well as the urban forest canopy from chemical contamination while maintaining legally-required pedestrian safety standards.

Plymouth Department of Public Works – Water Division
169 Camelot Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 830-4162
Official Website: Plymouth Water Division

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. Plymouth’s separated storm sewer system discharges runoff directly to receiving waters without treatment, including Plymouth Harbor, Eel River, Town Brook, and other coastal and freshwater bodies.

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

Plymouth Department of Public Works – Water Division operates Plymouth’s municipal separated storm sewer system collecting rainwater, snowmelt, and ice melt runoff and conveying this drainage without treatment directly to Plymouth Harbor, Eel River, Town Brook, and Great Herring Pond. 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.

Plymouth Water Division
169 Camelot Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 830-4162
Official Website: Plymouth Water Division

Plymouth Water Division manages regional water supply protecting Plymouth Harbor, Eel River, Great Herring Pond, and groundwater sources from contamination. Report clogged catch basins to Plymouth Department of Public Works – Water Division at (508) 830-4162. 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 Plymouth’s urban forest through root zone contamination, foliar spray injury, and soil structure degradation. Plymouth Parks and Recreation Department manages approximately thousands of street trees requiring protection from winter maintenance chemical damage.

Plymouth Parks and Recreation Department
26 Court Street, Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 747-1620
Official Website: Plymouth Parks and Recreation Department

Visible Salt Injury Symptoms:

• Branch dieback starting at twig tips: Progressive death of branches from the ends inward.
• Yellowing or browning of evergreen needles: Discoloration indicates salt-induced desiccation or toxicity.
• Delayed spring bud break and reduced leaf size: Salt stress impairs normal leaf and bud development.
• Bark splitting and crown thinning: Chronic exposure results in weakened bark and sparser canopies.

Protective Measures:

• Wrap burlap screens around shrubs near driveways and sidewalks: Physical barriers protect sensitive vegetation from salt spray.
• Apply heavy irrigation (2-3 inches water) in April-May leaching accumulated salt from root zones: Deep watering helps flush salt from soil.
• Broadcast gypsum at 50 pounds per 1,000 square feet in October: Gypsum aids in displacing sodium ions from soil particles.
• Maintain 2-4 inch mulch layer over root zones: Mulch buffers soil from salt and conserves moisture.
• Select salt-tolerant species: Austrian pine, Japanese black pine, red oak, honey locust, rugosa rose.

Plymouth Department of Planning and Development
26 Court Street, Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 747-1620
Official Website: Plymouth Department of Planning and Development

Professional Salting Services Throughout Plymouth Neighborhoods

Downtown Plymouth: High-density commercial and historic areas near Plymouth Harbor requiring rapid ice management, minimized chloride application, and careful protection of brick sidewalks and century-old street trees to comply with local historic preservation guidelines and safeguard marine water quality.

North Plymouth: Residential and mixed-use district adjacent to the Eel River and coastal wetlands, necessitating reduced salt usage and runoff controls to protect sensitive estuarine habitats and groundwater recharge zones.

Manomet: Coastal neighborhood with steep slopes and proximity to Cape Cod Bay, requiring careful brine application and stormwater diversion to minimize salt runoff into marine environments and prevent erosion.

West Plymouth: Suburban area near Great Herring Pond and the Agawam River watershed with significant tree canopy and aquifer recharge zones—calls for secondary containment of de-icer storage and frequent monitoring of application rates to protect drinking water quality.

Chiltonville: Historic residential district along Town Brook with mature oaks and maples, brick walkways, and close proximity to public parks, necessitating use of calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) alternatives and low-impact mechanical clearing to preserve vegetation and minimize surface abrasion.

Cedarville: Southern coastal neighborhood with sandy soils and residential wells, requiring tailored salt application strategies, covered storage, and routine groundwater monitoring to prevent infiltration and protect private water supplies.

South Plymouth: Includes significant conservation areas and cranberry bogs, demanding careful scheduling of salting operations, use of salt-tolerant landscaping near roadsides, and strict adherence to MassDEP snow disposal guidance to limit chemical migration to sensitive ecosystems.

Saquish and Clark’s Island: Environmentally fragile coastal zones with limited infrastructure and direct exposure to Plymouth Bay, necessitating minimal salt use, hand application in critical areas, and environmental monitoring to protect rare habitats and prevent marine contamination.