Out with the Salt
With the winter season comes the smell of hearty soups and wood stoves, the warmth of bundling up and the magic of the first snowfall. But snow means slippery sidewalks and many, many hours of shoveling. It’s not uncommon in Minnesota for residents to reach for a bag of salt to help melt the ice, but sometimes it’s to the detriment of our water.
Minnesotans have used salt for decades to keep sidewalks and streets safe and clear of ice. Salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl) lowers the freezing point of ice, effectively melting it on pavement. Unfortunately, our use of salt is polluting our rivers, lakes, and in some cases, even drinking water. But that’s not all. Excess salt can also corrode sidewalks, driveways, and bridges. That’s why many cities in Minnesota have been re-training city street crews to keep streets clear, while at the same time, using the bare minimum of salt or brine in the process.
You might be wondering HOW salt is polluting our water sources. When we apply salt to our sidewalk or driveway, melting snow will dissolve and carry it down storm drains and directly into our waterways. Salt is one of two river pollutants (the other being nitrogen fertilizers) that are actually increasing in the Cannon River watershed.
Here’s what you can do to reduce salt use and simultaneously protect the quality of your water:
Shovel. Manually removing a bulk of the snow and ice will allow the salt to act more effectively and you won’t have to use as much.
Consider Sand. Use sand instead of salt to provide traction and prevent slips. Sand works at any temperature, whereas salt is only effective above 15°F. If you’re not totally convinced, switch to a 1:1 ratio of sand and salt.
Slow down. Winter is a time for slippery roads, regardless of sand and salt. Slow down and provide plenty of space for plow drivers to do their work.
Use less and be patient. Use fewer than 4 pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet (the average parking space is 150 square feet). Give the salt time to work before applying more.
Clean up the extra. If salt or sand is visible on dry pavement, it’s already done the work and leaving it there could actually damage the pavement over time. Consider sweeping it up so it doesn’t wash into nearby storm drains and water sources.
There are so many small things we can do to support clean water, and reducing salt use in the winter is one of them.
