Appearing in the March 23 Morning Sentinel was a photo of the Waterville Public Works sidewalk snowblower. This operator was discharging salt- and sand-saturated snow into the Kennebec River. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this an illegal practice? I believe that this practice causes difficulty for wildlife, maybe even killing fish, and would present problems were the water down river needed for drinking purposes, etc. Might the snow contain such contaminates as lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals?

I’m also somewhat worried about another practice seen in the last few years during spring cleanup. I have witnessed workers running equipment not designed for the purpose intended, such as leaf blowers that create clouds of dust blowing around for hours without regard for the operator or persons or property nearby.

Are people not aware that, while particles sent airborne gradually settle back, some unseen, potentially harmful fine particles could travel for miles? Please, for future use, consider equipment and tools that don’t create so much dust — they exist.

Paul O. Sylvain

Skowhegan