The Snow Dragon SND900, in all its glory. — Photo by Donald Norton

By Rebecca Danvers

The sight has become commonplace: piles of snow shoved aside and piled so high one cannot see over them. We’ve seen so much of the stuff lately it is gradually becoming unimaginable that there will ever come a day when it won’t be there.

And we may ask ourselves, how long will it take for all of it to melt away? Weeks? Months? Well, the City of Somerville has taken steps to assure us all that it won’t take as long as many have feared it would.

Thanks to the newly acquired Snow Dragon SND900 melter, tons of snow will be melted away quickly and efficiently throughout the remainder of the cleaning up period that lies ahead.

The Snow Dragon is fully portable and relatively easy to operate.
— Photo by Donald Norton

Capable of melting as much as 30 tons of snow per hour – that’s 100-300 cubic yards per hour – the melter turns mounds of fluffy or hard-packed snow into warm flowing water, which runs off into existing storm drain systems.

At a cost of $229,000, the Snow Dragon represents a substantial investment by the city, but most would agree that considering the extreme conditions of this year’s winter storms it is money well spent. Not only will the current snow accumulation be whittled away quickly and efficiently, the machine will be standing by to go into service for many years to come.

The unit is fully portable and able to go into action at almost any location. Don’t be surprised if you come across it while doing its duty over the course of the weeks to come.

So, when you step outside and instinctively wonder where on earth all that snow will be going to, wonder no more. There is one mightily hungry dragon nearby waiting to be fed.