Preserve fresh water – salt smart

Did you know that one teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water?

We use de-icing salt to keep our roads, driveways, and sidewalks safe during the winter. However, that salt (or chloride) can easily flow into our lakes and rivers via storm drains and harm our freshwater ecosystems. It’s toxic to freshwater fish, amphibians, insects, and plants, and it can’t be removed from water through common treatment methods. It can also seep into groundwater via pores in soil and affect our drinking water supplies.

The Vermillion River Watershed is lucky – we do not currently have any waterbodies impaired for chloride. Let’s keep it that way by following these tips and joining us in recognizing Winter Salt Week, Jan. 25-31, 2025!

Here are some things you can do to protect your watershed from chloride pollution:

• Shovel first and early. The more snow and ice you remove, the less salt you need.
• Use less salt. One 12-ounce cup of salt is enough to cover 10 sidewalk squares. Leave about three inches between salt granules. More salt doesn’t always mean more melting. Plus, reducing salt use can save you money, too.
• Check the temperature. When it’s below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s too cold for salt to work. Use sand for traction instead (though note that it does not melt the ice).
• Sweep up any excess salt to reuse later.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Smart Salting program educates property managers and maintenance staff about how to use salt more efficiently on roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. The agency also hosts Smart Salting for Local Leaders for elected officials and citizen advisory committee members on what they can do. Check their page for when the next training takes place.