A plow used by the DPW (Photo submitted by Casey Berube)
WESTFIELD- The Department of Public Works’ Snow and Ice Team has begun using a new product to de-ice the roads after a snow or ice storm.
The DPW has deployed what they refer to as “Magic-0TM”, a non-toxic substance that is supposed to make clearing snowy and icy roads more efficient and environmentally friendly. The substance consists of magnesium chloride and molasses, and it can melt ice at temperatures as low as -49 degrees Fahrenheit. Standard road salt will only melt ice at about 20 degrees.
DPW Deputy Superintendent Casey Berube said that the substance will also cause less corrosion than salt on the underside of a vehicle.
“The sugars in the molasses helps to prevent the corrosion of equipment and vehicles,” said Berube, “The stickiness of the molasses helps it to not scatter in the road, so we do not have to keep redeploying salt.”
The tanks containing Magic-0TM sits between the cabin and the bed of the truck, A hos brings the liquid to the point where the salt exits the vehicle and sprays it before it hits the ground (Photo submitted by Casey Berube)
This is the first winter season where the city is using the substance. During the most recent winter storm on Tuesday, which consisted of more ice than snow in most places, the DPW had three trucks using Magic-0TM throughout the city.
Berube said that as of about 11 a.m. Dec. 17, the Magic-0TM was working perfectly where they were using it.
The trucks that use it still use salt as well, but they do not need to use as much. Berube said that the trucks now work so that the salt that is being dropped on the ground by the trucks is being sprayed with Magic-0TM on the way down.
The trucks that are using it were purchased by the DPW two years ago, and are the same trucks they have been using in that time. The trucks have tanks in between the cabin and the bed of the truck in which the substance is stored.
