Somerville tests beet-juice additive in brine to reduce road salt use

Somerville's Department of Public Works has begun adding beet-juice byproduct to its salt‑brine pretreatment on main roads, Commissioner Joe Lathan told the Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works on Feb. 10.

"Beet juice kinda helps lower the freezing temperature of the salt brine," Commissioner Lathan said. He said the additive helps the brine adhere and stay on pavement longer so melting begins when snow hits the road, potentially reducing long‑term salt use.

Lathan described the operational limits: brining (with or without beet juice) is most effective when storms do not begin with heavy rain or freezing rain that would wash the pretreatment away. The city currently uses two dedicated brine trucks and treats mains and cross streets; early tests showed better results on roads with traffic because the treatment activates when driven on.

Councilors asked about environmental and pest impacts. Lathan said the goal is environmental — to reduce road salt runoff — and that the department is collecting data to measure whether brining with beet juice reduces total salt tonnage per storm. He said DPW has not observed increased rodent activity related to beet juice and described the product as a salt‑water mixture with an added sugar component.

DPW staff said the treatment may leave a pinkish tint on pavement and noted it has been tested on some residential streets but has been concentrated on mains because activation depends on vehicle traffic. The committee did not take formal action; DPW will continue data collection and targeted use.