The Problem With Salt
Many people expect snow and ice on roads and parking lots to be cleared quickly, which commonly involves using salt to melt it. However, excess salt creates chloride pollution, with impacts including:
- Impaired lakes, streams, and rivers.
- More salt in shallow wells and drinking water.
- Toxicity to fish, aquatic bugs, mussels, and amphibians.
- Damage to flooring and landscaping.
Practice Smart Salting
Follow best practices to save money and improve water quality:
- Shovel first: The more you shovel or snow blow, the less salt you will need.
- Do not over apply: Use less than one cup of salt per parking stall.
- Use sand in colder temperatures: Most salts stop working below 15°F.
- Sweep the excess: Sweep up and reuse extra sand and salt rather than letting it wash away.
It only takes one teaspoon of salt to permanently pollute just five gallons of water, and more salt does not equal more safety.
Hire Trained Contractors
If you hire a snow removal service, find a contractor who is trained in smart salting by searching online for road salt certificate holders or asking them the following:
- Have you attended a winter parking lot and sidewalk maintenance training session?
- Are you certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (or similar local authority) in snow and ice control best practices?
- If not certified, would you be willing to attend a training session?
- What best practices do you use to reduce the amount of salt applied?
Additional Chloride Resources
- Eco Living – Use less salt in your water softener to cut pollution and save money: pca.state.mn.us/news-and-stories/eco-living-use-less-salt-in-your-water-softener-to-cut-pollution-and-save-money
- Eco Living – Apply de-icing salt correctly to protect our lakes and streams: pca.state.mn.us/news-and-stories/winter-is-finally-here-apply-de-icing-salt-correctly-to-protect-our-lakes-and-streams
- UMN Water Resource Center - Residential Softening:Â wrc.umn.edu/residentialsoftening
- MN Statewide Chloride Management Plan: pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/statewide-chloride-resources
- Low Salt No Salt Minnesota: rpbcwd.org/low-salt-no-salt