A novel use of waste from the growth of cucumbers is being used in Southern Germany to tackle icy roads, instead of the usual mix of water containing salt (brine). A forward-thinking road maintenance depot located close to the Bavarian city of Munich has been using cucumber water instead of brine.
The waste cucumber water is being supplied by the Develey cucumber producing operation in Dingolfing, located to the North East of Munich. Some 100,000litres of the cucumber water has previously been used by the Department of Road Construction at the State Building Office Freising for de-icing roads. This method was first trialled in 2019 and testing showed it was of benefit for keeping roads free from ice during winter weather.
This latest supply of cucumber water is being used to keep 240km of roads free from ice instead of using brine. The cucumber water no longer has to be disposed of at a waste water facility. And the cucumber water has the added benefit of not being corrosive to vehicles or being of concern from an environmental perspective. Research showed that the cucumber water is suitable for reducing ice on roads during winter and this unusual use of a waste fluid saves costs and lowers the risk of environmental contamination, while eliminating the issue of vehicle corrosion.
