Put a pencil to it!

The picture is me sitting on rail fence in Death Valley, California.  Behind me is one of the wagons used for transporting Borax out of Death Valley by the legendary "20 mule teams".  Actually the two animals hitched closest to the wagon were draft horses.  More on that later, the picture has little to nothing in common with the title of the post.  Although I guess the teamsters had to put a pencil to their operation, one challenge they had to figure was lack of water and the water requirements of draft animals.  Which is why they chose the mules, they consume less water than horses.  And water tank wagons were part of the convoy.  What I wish to share is the different opinions concerning liquid chlorides, including salt brine (sodium chloride).  There are many factors to consider when choosing and using liquid chlorides, including performance characteristics, cost, temperature, equipment, damage to equipment and/or infrastructure, damage to environment, etc.  Cost of product is a big issue and I have heard many individuals promote salt brine based upon purchase price.  Some agencies mix their own salt brine, which is great.  But, contrary to claims that salt brine can be mixed for $0.10 to $0.20 per gallon, I would have to question that logic.  "Put a pencil" to it!  What is cost of salt?  What is cost of water?  If you have city water, you are paying for it.  If you have well water, you pay the electricity to pump it.  Did you purchase a brine maker, if so, what did it cost?  Did you make a brine maker?  If so, there is parts and labor costs?  What is the cost of labor to make the brine?  Unless your employees are volunteers, they are receiving a wage and benefits.  If employees are busy making brine then there is something else not getting done.  Or, you are a very lucky agency who has yet to undergo any staffing cuts.  I am not advocating that no one should be making or using salt brine, but I do want everyone to be honest, at least with themselves, when they are calculating "cost of doing business".   My personal opinion, as a "fleet guy", is to use a chloride with a corrosion inhibitor, whatever that may be.  Corrosion inhibited chlorides reek much less damage and destruction to winter maintenance trucks and equipment, including applicator pumps.   That results in true cost savings.  And on that subject; I was approached by several companies promoting salt neutralizers to use on our equipment.  I never used any because:  A.  it is very expensive if you have many trucks (we had over 100) and use it regularly  and  B.  soap and water after every snow event work wonders on removing salt and brine plus the purchase price is very low compared to "special neutralizing agents".   Just takes some "elbow grease".  Don't believe me?  "Put a pencil to it"!