Smart Salting for a Better Environment

​​

The next time a snow storm hits, hold the salt.

Food isn't the only thing many Americans put too much salt on.  When it comes to Midwest winters, using too much salt on driveways and walkways can do more harm than good.

While a cheap and effective deicing strategy, salting in earnest can also cause too much chloride to build up in the environment, eventually winding up in our storm drains, rivers and wetlands.  This can lead to levels that are toxic for aquatic organisms.

Less is more when it comes to salting during the winter; a 12 ounce cup of salt is all a homeowner needs to cover 10 sidewalk squares or a 20-foot driveway. Putting down more salt does not make the ice melt faster.

These graphs​ show the dramatic increase in the level of salt being used in the U.S. over the last 70 years, in addition to the increase in chloride concentrations in Lake Michigan since the early 1980s.

The below video​ show the impact of salt on freshwater bodies in Milwaukee and why smart salting is so important to preserve water quality for the future. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmqGYXYJC4g​