Professional Ice Management & Salting Services in Pembroke

Pembroke Ice Management & Salting Regulations

Pembroke's 24-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 Pembroke's drinking water sources, including Silver Lake, Oldham Pond, Furnace Pond, the North River watershed, and the town's public supply wells, as well as the urban forest canopy from chemical contamination while maintaining legally-required pedestrian safety standards.

Pembroke Department of Public Works – Water Division
91 Glenwood Road, Pembroke, MA 02359
Phone: (781) 709-1430
Official Website: Pembroke Department of Public Works – 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. Pembroke'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

Pembroke Department of Public Works – Water Division operates Pembroke's municipal separated storm sewer system collecting rainwater, snowmelt, and ice melt runoff and conveying this drainage without treatment directly to the North River, Herring Brook, Silver Lake, Furnace Pond, and Oldham Pond. 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.

Pembroke Department of Public Works – Water Division
91 Glenwood Road, Pembroke, MA 02359
Phone: (781) 709-1430
Official Website: Pembroke Department of Public Works – Water Division

Pembroke Department of Public Works – Water Division manages regional water supply protecting Silver Lake, Furnace Pond, Oldham Pond, and the North River watershed from contamination. Report clogged catch basins to Pembroke Department of Public Works – Water Division at (781) 709-1430. 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 Pembroke's urban forest through root zone contamination, foliar spray injury, and soil structure degradation. Pembroke Parks and Recreation Department manages approximately thousands of street trees requiring protection from winter maintenance chemical damage.

Pembroke Parks and Recreation Department
128 Center Street, Pembroke, MA 02359
Phone: (781) 293-3844
Official Website: Pembroke Parks and Recreation 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

Pembroke Planning Board
100 Center Street, Pembroke, MA 02359
Phone: (781) 709-1402
Official Website: Pembroke Planning Board

Professional Salting Services Throughout Pembroke Neighborhoods

Historic Village Centers: Pembroke Center and Bryantville require careful salting practices to protect mature maples and oaks along Main Street and preserve historic brick walkways. Reduced sodium application rates and use of calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) alternatives are recommended to minimize infrastructure and vegetation impacts.

Waterfront and Pondside Neighborhoods: Silver Lake Shores, Furnace Colony, and Oldham Pond areas require strict chloride management to safeguard sensitive drinking water reservoirs and aquatic habitats. Salt application is minimized near shoreline streets and driveways to prevent runoff into surface waters and wellhead protection zones.

Riverfront and Wetland Areas: Herring Brook, Stetson Pond, and North River neighborhoods feature extensive wetlands and conservation land. De-icing operations utilize brine pretreatment and precision application to limit salt migration into sensitive ecosystems, and equipment is calibrated to prevent over-application near wetlands.

Suburban Residential Neighborhoods: Misty Meadow, Canoe Club, and Pembroke Woods developments feature dense storm drain networks and landscaped yards. Operators use granular salt spreaders with deflectors to reduce scatter onto lawns and maintain compliance with local stormwater standards.

Commercial Corridors: Route 53 and Pembroke Street business districts experience high pedestrian volumes and large parking areas. Liquid de-icer pretreatment is favored to reduce total chloride load while maintaining safety, with runoff directed away from stormwater inlets connected to Herring Brook and Furnace Pond.

School and Civic Campuses: North Pembroke, Hobomock, and Bryantville School zones require rapid ice management for student safety while implementing buffer zones near playgrounds and playing fields to protect turf and trees from salt exposure.

Conservation and Recreation Areas: Tubbs Meadow, Willow Brook Farm, and Robinson Creek conservation lands demand special protection for rare species and native vegetation. Salting is restricted on access roads, with sand used as an alternative where possible to prevent chemical intrusion into protected habitats.

Upland and Sloped Districts: Barker Street and Edgewater Drive neighborhoods, characterized by hilly terrain, require careful application to prevent excessive runoff and erosion into nearby receiving waters. Anti-icing strategies and reduced rates are prioritized in these topographically sensitive areas.