The city has spent $200,000 to put GPS technology on each of its 200 snowplows, which will allow staff to adjust in real time how much salt is applied to Ottawa's roads. (CBC)

Ottawa is equipping its snow-removal vehicles with global position system technology in order to reduce salt use on the city's roads during the winter months.

The city spent $200,000 to put GPS technology on each of its 200 plows, which will allow staff to gather real-time data about road conditions and temperatures and adjust how much salt and other chemicals are applied to Ottawa's roads. Ottawa is the first Canadian city to use the technology on its entire fleet of snow-removal vehicles.

John Manconi, general manager of public works, estimates the technology could reduce the city's salt usage by as much as 13,300 tonnes each year, saving the city $1 million. The city currently spends between $13 million and $15 million on road salt each year. Manconi said the GPS system will cost $80,000 to maintain each year.

Reducing the amount of salt used on Ottawa roads should have environmental benefits as well, reducing the amount of chlorine that can seep into groundwater and harm vegetation and aquatic life, as well affect the quality of drinking water.