The Brookhaven Highway Department has secured a $293,000 grant from New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation to enhance winter road maintenance practices.

This funding will be used to acquire equipment aimed at reducing road salt usage and preventing contamination of surface waters.

The department plans to purchase plow guards and brine sprayers.

These tools will enable precise brine application and extend the lifespan of snow plow blades, thereby minimizing salt-laden runoff into nearby water bodies and reducing groundwater contamination.

Highway Superintendent Daniel Losquadro emphasized the benefits of this initiative, stating that adding brine-spreading applicators to the existing winter maintenance equipment will lessen reliance on road salt, which can pollute stormwater systems and nearby waterbodies.

He also highlighted that the new plow guards will extend blade life and ensure more effective snow and ice removal, reducing the need for repeated salting.

The department anticipates that the new brine sprayers will use up to 70% less salt than traditional methods.

Additionally, the 212 new plow guards are designed to be more efficient and durable than traditional blades.

Losquadro noted that keeping plow operators on the roads longer during winter storms, rather than pulling equipment off for repairs, means roads can be cleared sooner.

With the addition of this equipment, the department expects to reduce its reliance on rock salt by 30%.

Currently, the yearly average rock salt application is 13,872 tons spread over 3,700 lane miles in the Town of Brookhaven.

Losquadro also mentioned that over the years, Brookhaven's coastal waters have been impacted by flooding and storm surges.

Stormwater from such events carries harmful pollutants from public roadways into nearby waterways, degrading water quality.

This project aims to improve the department's capacity to mitigate harmful road maintenance pollutants from entering the town's stormwater system and discharging into nearby waterbodies, while strengthening the ability to maintain safe road conditions during increasingly variable winter weather.