"Smart Salt and You" / A Traveling Exhibit Now in Elgin

The "Smart Salt and You" travelling exhibit is now on the second floor of the Gail Borden Main Library at 270 N. Grove, Elgin Illinois.

Smart Salt and You is intended to bring awareness about how little salt is needed to be effective to ensure safety on icy surfaces. Salt negatively impacts groundwater, rivers, pets and plants.

The Northwest Water Planning Alliance Sensible Salting Committee and the Conservation Foundation along with Aurora, Schaumburg, Joliet and Gail Borden library staff members were part of this effort. On January 31 at 10 a.m. in person or online (https://fb.me/e/47MYvalqr), please join Elgin Mayor David Kaptain, Jennifer Hammer of the Conservation Foundation, Val Devine from Joliet, Stephanie Driscoll from Schaumburg, Ali Lanthrum from Aurora and Gail Borden Library representatives as they talk about why the "more salt isn't better" message is important for our water.

"The water quality matters everywhere. With our water supply coming from the Fox River, water health is especially important here," said Elgin Mayor David Kaptain.

He explained that locally there is a compelling example of salt impact as hockey and ice skating were activities at Lords Park pond in years past. The pond no longer freezes due to salt runoff.

Jennifer Hammer, Director of Watershed Programs at the Conservation Foundation, said, "We can be safe and protect the health of our local waters when we are Salt Smart. Shovel first and only salt where needed to be safe."

Smart Salt and You will be at Gail Borden Library until mid-February. It will then travel to the Schaumburg Township District Library and then to the Aurora Public Library in mid-March. In November 2023, Smart Salt and You will be at the Joliet Public Library.

This short, funny video - "More Isn't Always Better" - accompanies this exhibit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZLhdNCrQgs--