A local water services company is expanding its usual demographic of purchasers to accommodate winter conditions.
Van Isle Water Services focuses on water conditioning treatments for water wells, sewage treatment and pools, but the conventional supplies Van Isle has in stock for everyday and summer activities holds great value when winter hits and other retailers run out.
“We’ve sold 15 pallets of salt in the last two days, that’s a couple of thousand bags,” said owner Jeff Irvine. “We’re just about out of it now.”
ALSO READ: ICBC, Police release tips for drivers in snowy conditions
Irvine said that throughout the year they are fully stocked with different types of salt, primarily for water conditioning, and that predicting the use for winter is hit or miss.
“It’s human nature to leave things last minute, and in Victoria, a snowfall like this is hard to predict,” Irvine said. “Last year we sold out because [our supplier in] Vancouver ran out. This year our order was exactly right on time.”
Irivine said their supply is popular because of the quality and price of the salt.
“The stuff we sell is pure salt that comes in crystallized form. It’s very conducive to spreading around, and a lot cheaper than the dying needed in the Ice Melt,” he said.
ALSO READ: Snow shovels, salt flying of the shelves in Victoria
So far winter purchasers include local residents, hospitals, retailers, landscapers and small bobcat companies.
“We sold four pallets to the Gorge Road Hospital so everyone can get in,” Irvine said.
For Brent Cowling, general manager of both the Cook Street and Bay Street Castle Building Centre locations, having the local option is a blessing in the winter, especially after he ran out of his own supply of salt and Ice Melt.
“I’m not going to send my drivers up to Duncan,” Cowling said. “The Solar Salt for water conditioning has a lot of the same properties as regular Ice Melt but is less harmful. “
Irvine said that while their own supplies are getting low, a finer-grade pool salt is still available while other types of salt are scheduled to arrive soon.
Send a Tweet: @NicoleCrescenzi
Like us on Facebook Â
