Be a good neighbor this winter: SALT SMART!

by Grace Barcelow

Did you know that one teaspoon of salt pollutes five gallons of water FOREVER? When de-icing salt (a.k.a. chloride) enters bodies of water, there is no easy way to remove it. Salt applied to driveways and sidewalks during the winter season is one of the top contributing sources to chloride pollution in our lakes, rivers and streams.

Salt use has been on the rise since the 1950s, leading to waters becoming increasingly salty. Chloride levels have become so high that many creeks and lakes are now considered unhealthy and have been added to Minnesota’s impaired waters list for chloride pollution.

Too much salt can lead to costly damages and environmental consequences! Chloride harms plants and animals, contaminates drinking water, damages buildings, and corrodes vehicles, roads and bridges.

We all want to prioritize safety, but it is critical to understand that more salt does not always mean less ice or safer conditions.

Luckily, there are actions we can take to help improve water quality and keep our neighbors safe this winter.

How to manage snow and ice this winter:

1. Shovel as soon as possible after a snowstorm to prevent ice buildup;

2. Add an ice scraper to your toolbox. These are often more effective than salt when ice has built up on sidewalks and driveways;

3. Read the label on your de-icer to make sure it will work in the current weather conditions. At low temperatures, typically colder than 15 degrees F, regular road salt will not melt ice;

4. Use sand or grit for traction when temperatures are too cold for salt to work;

5. Use salt sparingly. Try to scatter salt grains three inches apart. This will melt ice faster than salt that is too close together.

For more information, and any questions please contact KNA Board Member and Hennepin County Conservation Specialist, Grace Barcelow, at [email protected].