The Clermont County Engineer’s Office was awarded $64,600 in May 2025 through the H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant!

This funding was used to purchase:
• Three 5,000-gallon brine storage tanks
• One brine maker with automatic salinity measurement controls
• Various truck fill and pre-wetting system equipment

Our goal through this grant is to reduce road salt use by 30% while maintaining safe winter driving conditions. During each snow event, our department treats 386 linear miles of road.

Pre-wetting systems add moisture to salt before it’s applied to the road, reducing scatter and allowing it to work more effectively. Studies show this can reduce salt use by 20–30%, decreasing chloride runoff into local waterways and reducing the amount of salt the County needs to purchase annually.

The Ohio EPA has found that salt levels in Ohio’s waterways are rising, largely from road salt use. Thanks to this grant, Clermont County is joining other Ohio communities in taking proactive steps to protect our rivers and improve water quality.

Alongside this project, we’re continuing to upgrade our fleet — moving from smaller 75 and 150-gallon brine tanks to 240-gallon systems on newer trucks, allowing us to use more liquid and less salt.

To learn more about the H2Ohio program, visit: H2Ohio | Ohio.gov