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As the
first major snow of the season arrives, Minnesotans are thinking about
clearing snow and ice from pavement — sometimes with salt. We scatter an
estimated 365,000 tons of salt in the metro area each year. But it only takes a
teaspoon of salt to permanently pollute five gallons of water.
The
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recommends a low-salt diet for our
lakes, streams, and rivers. Much like table salt, rock salt’s benefits are peppered with danger. Salt helps melt
ice on roads and sidewalks and protects drivers and pedestrians. But when the
snow melts, de-icing salt, which contains chloride, runs into nearby bodies of
water and harms aquatic wildlife. Chloride accumulates in the water over time,
and there’s no feasible way to treat or remove it.
A University of Minnesota study found
that about 78% of salt applied in the Twin Cities for winter maintenance ends
up either in groundwater or local lakes and wetlands. The MPCA has found that
groundwater in the state’s urban areas often exceeds the state standards for chloride
contamination. Forty-seven bodies of water in Minnesota have tested above the
standard for chloride, 39 of which are in the Twin Cities metro area.
Though no environmentally
safe, effective, and inexpensive alternatives to salt are yet available, smart
salting strategies can help reduce chloride pollution in state waters, while
saving money and limiting salt damage to infrastructure, vehicles, and plants.
Do your part by
following these simple tips:
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Shovel. The more snow and ice you remove manually, the less salt you
will have to use and the more effective it can be.
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15 degrees (F) is too cold for salt. Most salts stop working at this
temperature. Use sand instead for traction, but remember that sand does not
melt ice.
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Slow down. Drive for the conditions and make sure to give plow drivers
plenty of space to do their work. Consider
purchasing winter (snow) tires.
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Apply less. More salt does not mean more
melting. Use less than four pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet. One
pound of salt is approximately a heaping 12-ounce coffee mug. Leave about a three-inch
space between granules. Consider purchasing a hand-held spreader to help you
apply a consistent amount.
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Sweep up extra. If salt or sand is visible on dry pavement it is no longer doing
any work and will be washed away. Use this salt or sand somewhere else or throw
it away.
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Hire a certified Smart Salting contractor. Visit the MPCA web site for a list of winter maintenance
professionals specifically trained in limiting salt use.
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Watch
a video. Produced by the Mississippi
Watershed Management Organization, it offers tools for environmentally friendly
snow and ice removal.
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Act
locally. Support local and state winter maintenance crews in their efforts
to reduce their salt use.
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Promote
smart salting. Work together with local government,
businesses, schools, churches, and nonprofits to find ways to reduce salt use
in your community.
Learn
more on the MPCA's website.
Broadcast version
The
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recommends a low-salt diet for our
lakes, streams, and rivers. Much like table salt, rock salt’s benefits are peppered with danger. Salt helps melt
ice on roads and sidewalks and protects drivers and pedestrians. But when the
snow melts, de-icing salt, which contains chloride, runs into nearby bodies of
water and harms aquatic wildlife. Chloride accumulates in the water over time,
and there’s no feasible way to treat or remove it. Learn more on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's website.
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The mission of the MPCA is to protect and improve the environment and enhance human health.
St. Paul • Brainerd • Detroit Lakes • Duluth • Mankato • Marshall • Rochester • Willmar
www.pca.state.mn.us • Toll-free and TDD 800-657-3864
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