Snowy roads are the bane of drivers everywhere. In Japan, engineers use road sprinklers to remove snow from surface roads. This simple system uses warmish water from underground springs delivered through tiny, flush-mounted sprinkler heads in the roadway.
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While drivers might worry that the water and snow will cause ice to form, the water prevents that. The Japan road sprinklers use underground water sources that are geothermally heated, making this an eco-friendly alternative. The underground water maintains temperatures between 46 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Developed in the 1960s, this system excellently uses Japan’s abundant geothermal resources. Some areas employ the same system to keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians.
Previously, snow and ice control included road salt or other chemical deicing agents. Although effective at controlling snow and ice, those products also degrade the road surface. Chemical agents have a detrimental effect on agriculture due to run-off, so the water systems are a perfect solution.
By keeping the roads clear with water, traffic flows better and safer with fewer delays. With unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change, Japan’s road sprinklers lead to efficient and affordable road maintenance.
The sprinklers are shosetsu (snow-melting) pipes. On some roads, underground pipes below the pavement receive heat from solar power stored throughout the summer. Other roads employ a channel alongside roads (ryusetsuko) that allows river water to carry away chunks of snow.
This innovative approach to snow and road maintenance could have worldwide applications. Engineers would need an alternative way to heat the naturally heated water in Japan. However, it may not withstand the elements in areas with extremely heavy snowfall. It would work well along the Atlantic and Pacific coastal regions and most of the southern US.
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