Did you know that it only takes 1 teaspoon of salt to permenantly pollute 5 gallons of water? Salt, otherwise known as chloride, is a permanant pollutant of water. A major cause of chloride pollution within our watershed originates from overuse of road salt. When snow melts, it drains directly into our waterways along with the salt that was applied. Because of this, chloride pollution is only rising in our lakes, streams, and groundwater. 

Quick Facts:

• 365,000 tons of road salt is used in Minnesota each year.
• 67 Minnesota waterbodies are impaired by chloride. 
• 78% tons of road salt is used in Minnesoa each year. 

Key Reasons to Be Salt Smart:

• Clean Water: Using smart salting practices reduces the amount of deicing salt that enters rivers, streams, and ponds which helps protect water quality. 
• Less Waste: Outdated salting technqiues overuse salt, which wastes money and unnecessarily harms the environment. Using Salt Smart practices minimizes waste and saves money. 
• Safe Roads and Walkways: Salt Smart communities apply the right deicers for the right conditions in the right amount. This approach allows them to create safe roads, parking lots, and sidewalks without overusing salt. 
• Healthy Landscaping: Deicers often bounce into vegetation next to roads and sidewalks, causing harm to plants. Using the right amount of salt protects your landscaping. 
• Happy Pets: When dogs walk on salt-covered surfaces, salt can irritate their paws and potentially make them sick when they lick it off. Being alt Smart at home supports your pet's safety and wellbeing. 
• Lasting Infrastructure: Salt corrodes instrastructure and vehicles, eventually leadin to costly repairs. Being Salt Smart improves the lifespan of cars, roads, bridges, doorways, and more. 

Environmental Impact and Concerns:

Chloride is toxic to fish, amphibians, insects, and plants. Even low levels of salt can disrupt entire ecosystems and harm biodiveristy. Once dissolved, chloride is nearly impossible and costly to remove. Another major concern regarding the environmenal impact of chloride is no salt is eco-friendly or pet-friendly. As long as it includes chloride, all types of salt are harmful to water, pets, and plants. Don't rely on using green labels, focus on using less.

Skipping salt is best for water quality. If salt is needed, small changes can make a huge difference. Instead of using salt, use these Smart Salting techniques instead:

• Shovel first: Clear areas of snow before using any salt. 
• Measure: Use smaller amounts of salt. A 12 ounce coffee cup can cover a 20 foot driveway. 
• Sweep Away Excess Salt: Prevent salt from blowing or washing into our waterways. 
• Use Alternatives: Rather than opting for salt, try using sand for traction or salt brine for targeted use. 

Small actions add up. Together we can keep our water clean and our communities safe. Let's do our part and use smart salting practices! 

Check out these resources for more tips: