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Help Reduce Winter Salt Pollution

Mon, Jan 20, 2025

As Minnesotans trudge through winter, many will be heading to the store to grab a bag of deicing salt. Before you douse your driveways and sidewalks, take a moment to understand the lasting impacts deicing salt has on our lakes, rivers, and streams and what steps we can all take to protect our water.

Melting snow and ice flow directly into our lakes, rivers, and streams, carrying deicing salts that are toxic to aquatic plants and animals. The chloride and other chemicals in deicing salts are harmful to the environment, and once this chloride contaminates water, there is no feasible way to remove it. Just one teaspoon of salt pollutes five gallons of water permanently.

We all want to prioritize safety, but it is critical to understand that more salt does not always mean less ice or safer conditions. Too much salt can lead to costly damages and environmental consequences. Chloride harms plants and animals, contaminates drinking water, damages buildings, and corrodes vehicles, roads, and bridges.

At home, everyone can adopt these winter maintenance best practices:

1. Shovel promptly after snowstorms to prevent ice buildup.
2. Use ice scrapers for stubborn ice instead of salt.
3. Check the temperature outside to ensure the deicer you choose will be effective. Some deicers (like sodium chloride) won’t work if the pavement is colder than 15°F.
4. Find other ways to gain traction, such as using sand or grit when temperatures are below 15°F.
5. Apply salt sparingly, with granules spaced three inches apart. This distribution is most effective for melting ice.
6. Sweep up leftover salt and sand to prevent runoff and to reuse it later.
7. Make sure you have a good pair of boots or traction devices to minimize your chances of slipping outside in winter.

Additionally, West Metro Waters Alliance (WMWA) is offering one-on-one consultations to facilities in parts of Hennepin County to address salt use and improve snow and ice management, all while keeping communities safe, increasing environmental well-being, and decreasing winter maintenance and infrastructure costs.

If you work with or are a member of a faith-based facility, homeowners association, or other business, within the WMWA territory (which include the Bassett Creek, Elm Creek, Richfield, Bloomington, Shingle Creek, or West Mississippi watersheds) or are interested in what kind of support you can receive in another watershed, contact Grace Barcelow at grace.barcelow@hennepin.us or 612-543-9295. To see if your property is within WMWA territory search for your property address on the natural resources map (gis.hennepin.us/naturalresources).

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