Salt savvy | The River Reporter
Applying salt to roadways during winter storms improves safety for travelers, but also affects waterways, their inhabitants and drinking water quality. The salt used to treat this road in Pike County, PA will wind up in the adjacent lake and local groundwater. Take advantage of the links in this column to increase your water awareness of salt and its environmental impacts.
Posted Wednesday, February 12, 2025 11:42 am
By SANDY LONG
With another whirl of wild winter weather in the rearview mirror and more weather to come on the horizon, it’s fair to say the Upper Delaware River region will be receiving additional rounds of salt-based road treatments to address winter driving hazards.
Most of us are grateful for these practices as we struggle to make it to work or to that surgery that just can’t wait. It’s important to remember, however, that the substances we apply to roads, sidewalks, parking lots and other surfaces ultimately find their way into our waterways and can take an unseen toll on the freshwater fish, aquatic insects and plant life there.
One of the primary agencies working to protect regional waters where I live is the Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) based in Blooming Grove, PA. The small staff studies, establishes and monitors water-protective practices. The work isn’t flashy, and often takes place without fanfare or recognition, but its impacts are highly beneficial to the long-term well-being of our water. Visit www.pikeconservation.org/sliding-into-winter-2025 for a primer and other helpful information about water and winter ice management.
Another effort to protect water quality on a broader scale is Winter Salt Awareness Week, which took place during the final days of January. This collaboration of governmental and non-governmental organizations across the United States and Canada works to raise awareness around salt pollution and reduction solutions to identify the best practices in snow and ice control and advocate for the protection of freshwater resources. Visit www.wintersaltweek.org/about.
One member of the coalition that has focused on seeking innovative solutions to preserving fresh water since 1967 is the Stroud Water Research Center (SWRC) based in Avondale, PA. The SWRC asserts that salt use can be reduced by 30 to 50 percent and offers strategies for doing so on its website, where you can also see the Winter Salt Week results. Visit www.stroudcenter.org/salt/#salt-week-results.
Another resource for information about the environmental impacts of road salt, as well as some watershed-friendly deicing alternatives to traditional road salt, is the Penn State Extension. See two helpful articles here and here.
Finally, read up on the Izaak Walton League of America, which has been promoting community-based conservation and volunteer science while advocating for strong state and national policies to protect air, water and wildlife for the past century. Visit https://www.iwla.org/publications/outdoor-america/articles/outdoor-america-2024-issue-4/when-salt-of-the-earth-becomes-salt-in-the-wound for an informative piece on the problems associated with salt. You can also request a free test kit and become a citizen scientist by monitoring the salinity of your favorite water body at www.iwla.org/water/stream-monitoring/salt-watch.
