The Role of Risk Perception in Road Salt Management: A Policy Study in the Lake Simcoe Watershed

There have been significant increases in chloride concentrations in Ontario’s water sources as a result of road salt runoff from roads, walkways and other impervious surfaces, bringing negative environmental consequences. This study examined the role of risk perception in road salt management in the Lake Simcoe watershed. An online survey was given to members of the community, experts in the source water protection field and winter maintenance contractors, which attempted to assess perceptions of risk about road salt and examine the trade-off between perceptions of public safety versus environmental risks. Differing perceptions of risk were shown among the three groups, which could pose challenges for making collective decisions about road salt management and affect policy outcomes. Acknowledging these differences throughout decision-making processes can contribute to proper policy decisions that ensure the risks to public safety and the risks to the environment are both low.