subject: Prevent Ice On Roads And Sidewalks From Sprinkler Systems [print this page] Prevent Ice On Roads And Sidewalks From Sprinkler Systems
People expect ice on bridges and roadways when it snows or there is freezing rain/sleet. During those times, public safety officials and weather forecasters usually remind people of the dangers, but what about times when Mother Nature isn't making any deposits? Motorists and pedestrians can still encounter slippery conditions, even when nothing is falling from the sky.
"Black ice" is actually clear, and is virtually invisible, especially at night. It occurs when a thin film of moisture freezes on a sidewalk or roadway. For example, a roadway may be cleared of previous snowfall, but as that snowfall melts, water can seep back onto roadways. If the temperature of the roadway falls below freezing, ice can form, making for a very dangerous situation. It's one thing to drive in snow, but an entirely different scene to traverse on ice.
Water reaching roadways can occur for unexpected reasons a water main or line may break. There is one cause, however, for which there is NO excuse and totally controllable sprinkler or irrigation systems. I recently encountered black ice in a parking lot because a business had left their sprinkler system on. Fortunately it was in daylight but had it been at night, the icing would have been difficult if not impossible to see.
In areas where temperatures drop to freezing or below, sprinkler systems need to be winterized or shut off, not only to protect people from the icing they can cause, but to protect the system itself. Leaving water in sprinkler lines could allow the lines to break resulting in an expensive repair. If you have a sprinkler system, please shut it down for winter. If you don't know how, there is plenty of how-to information on the internet. Business owners need to remind whoever is responsible for their grounds to take care of it people forget, and better safe than sorry.
Please, everyone, take steps to prevent your sprinkler system from causing water on roadways during freezing weather. A pretty green lawn isn't worth endangering lives.
