Transcript: Is Road Salt Destroying Ontario’s Waterways? | Apr 28, 2025 | TVO Today
Time-lapse footage shows snow melting and green shoots pushing through the wet ground. In a river, water gushes in rapids.
Jeyan Jeganathan narrates, AS THE SNOW MELTS AND THE EARTH WAKES UP, WINTER STARTS TO LET GO. SPRING IS HERE, FINALLY. RUNOFF FLOWS INTO RIVERS AND LAKES, BUT THESE WATERS THAT WE WELCOME CARRY SOMETHING WE CAN'T SEE. ROAD SALT.
[Footsteps crunching, vehicle engine rumbling, salt rattling]
Someone walks past a clump of undissolved road salt on a slushy sidewalk, a car drives on a snowy road, and someone wearing a bright safety vest drops salt on a bridge.
Jeyan narrates, CHEMICALLY KNOWN AS SODIUM CHLORIDE. IT WORKS BY LOWERING THE FREEZING POINT OF WATER, MAKING IT HARDER FOR ICE TO FORM. AND THIS PAST WINTER, A WINTER FULL OF STORMS, ICE WAS AN ISSUE FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS ONTARIO.
[Engines rumbling]
Snow falls on a busy highway.
On a Cp24.com newscast, text reads, “Wintry weather. Winter storm warning. A blonde-haired newscaster wears a green sweater.
The blonde-haired newscaster says, WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT STRETCHING FROM WINDSOR TO MONTREAL.
On a GlobalNews.ca, newscaster Anthony Robart says, BRUTAL ICE STORM LEFT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ONTARIANS IN THE DARK.
On CBC.ca, text reads, “Gravenhurst still digging out after storm, as fresh snow blankets cottage country.”
A black-haired newscaster says, UP IN MUSKOKA COME THE SAME SYSTEM IS BRINGING EVEN MORE SNOW...
Vehicles drive on a four-lane highway past a creek and a snowy forest.
Jeyan narrates, AND IT'S IN MUSKOKA WHERE ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM BELLS ON ROAD SALT.
A car drives beneath the town sign for Gravenhurst. A driver with short white hair wears a brown sweater.
The white-haired driver says, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE COMING DOWN TO MUSKOKA BAY, GRAVENHURST BAY, AND THERE'S A CREEK RUNNING INTO THE BAY HERE THAT I'VE BEEN SAMPLING FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
[Water gurgling, clunking, footsteps crunching]
Water bubbles in the creek. In a parking lot, the white-haired driver, Neil, takes a sampling pole with a cup at the end and small bottles out of the back of the car. A sign beside a boardwalk reads, “Caution! Boardwalk is slippery when wet or icy.”
Jeyan narrates, NEIL HUTCHINSON HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO WATER QUALITY. AFTER WORKING AS AN AQUATIC SCIENTIST ACROSS CANADA, HE'S NOW RETIRED AND PART OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED, A GROUP FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING THREATS TO MUSKOKA'S WATERWAYS.
Text reads, “Neil Hutchinson. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”
Neil says, FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, WE BECAME QUITE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF ROAD SALT AND THE CHLORIDE ION, WHICH IS A TOXIC COMPONENT OF ROAD SALT, IN OUR RUNOFF OFF OUR ROADS INTO OUR VERY SOFT WATERS.
[Clicking, vehicle engines humming]
Photographs show salt-stained sidewalks and a trail of undissolved salt. Text reads, “Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”
Jeyan narrates, MANY ONTARIANS ARE FAMILIAR WITH IMAGES LIKE THIS. THESE PHOTOS WERE CAPTURED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED. THEY HIGHLIGHT THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ROAD SALT USED OVER THE WINTER.
A man wearing eyeglasses walks on a sidewalk with a woman with curly white hair and a woman with short white hair. They look at a pile of dirty snow.
Neil says, THERE'S A MESS. THAT'S GOING TO END UP IN THE RIVER.
The short-haired woman says, I WONDER HOW MUCH SALT IS IN THAT.
Jeyan narrates, THE DOCUMENTATION IS PART OF A STUDY NEIL AND A TEAM OF CITIZEN SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING TO SEE HOW MUCH OF THIS ROAD SALT IS DRAINING INTO MUSKOKA'S WATERSHED.
[Creek gurgling, birds chirping]
Neil collects a water sample using the pole. The curly-haired woman, Joanne Smith, stands on the boardwalk. Text reads, “Citizen Scientist.”
Joanne says, WHAT WE DO IS COLLECT A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER STARTING WHEN THE MELT STARTS. WHICH IS RIGHT NOW. WE GET ACCESS TO THE SNOW AND SALT WHICH IS COMING OFF OF THE SIDEWALKS, COMING OUT OF THE PARKING LOTS, COMING OFF OF THE ROADS.
By the creek, Neil says, ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO KNOW THE CONCENTRATION OF CHLORIDE. CHLORIDE IS TOXIC. IT'S DECLARED TOXIC AS IS ROAD SALT, BUT WE MEASURE IT QUITE SIMPLY WITH A LITTLE PEN THAT YOU CAN STICK IN THE WATER AND IT IMMEDIATELY READS THE CONDUCTIVITY.
On the sidewalk, Joanne puts a conductivity meter into a water sample held by the short-haired woman.
Joanne says, SO HERE'S THE CONDUCTIVITY METER. THAT'S VERY, VERY HIGH. 730. IT'S STILL GOING UP. CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN WE HAVE IN THE LAKE.
By the creek, Neil says, CONDUCTIVITY IS THE ABILITY OF THE WATER TO CARRY AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND THE MORE IONS THAT ARE DISSOLVED IN THE WATER, THE HIGHER THE CONDUCTIVITY, THE BETTER ABLE IT IS TO CONDUCT ELECTRICITY. SUCH THAT DISTILLED WATER WOULD HAVE NO CONDUCTIVITY, WHEREAS SEAWATER HAS SOMETHING LIKE 50,000 UNITS OF CONDUCTIVITY.
[Water gurgling]
The short-haired woman, Sandy Cairns, holds the water sample. Text reads, “Citizen Scientist.”
Sandy says, THIS WHOLE AREA OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD HAS 5 DIFFERENT DRAINAGE AREAS THAT COME DOWN. THEY ALL GO INTO GULL LAKE, SO THERE'S NO FILTRATION OR ANYTHING.
[Water gurgling]
Sandy stops and lowers a tube into a sewer grate. Water flows beneath a bridge.
Jeyan narrates, OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS, CITIZEN SCIENTISTS LIKE SANDY CAIRNS AND JOANNE SMITH HAVE CONDUCTED OVER 600 MEASUREMENTS AT 27 SITES IN GRAVENHURST, BRACEBRIDGE AND HUNTSVILLE. THEY TESTED DRAINS AND CREEKS YEAR-ROUND THAT FLOW INTO LARGE BODIES OF WATER LIKE LAKE MUSKOKA, GULL LAKE AND JEVONS LAKE. ACCORDING TO THE DATA, THE WORST SALT CONCENTRATIONS CAME FROM FOUR STORM DRAINS IN BRACEBRIDGE. THE FINDINGS ONLY CONFIRMED WHAT NEIL AND HIS TEAM ALREADY KNEW. SALT IS SILENTLY SATURATING MUSKOKA'S WATERS. THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED ESTIMATE THAT LAKE MUSKOKA NOW HOLDS AROUND 30,000 TONS OF ROAD SALT. AND IT'S NOT JUST IN COTTAGE COUNTRY, MANY TORONTO AREA STREAMS ARE GETTING SALTIER.
[Engines humming, whirring, rattling]
A quote reads, “Many Toronto-area streams are getting saltier, and road salt is mostly to blame, conservation experts suggest.” “By Andre Neary and Farrah Merali, February twenty-fourth, 2025.” On a street, a truck spreads road salt.
Jeyan narrates, ACROSS ONTARIO ABOUT 2.2 MILLION TONS OF ROAD SALT ARE SPREAD ON PUBLIC ROADS EVERY YEAR.
Text reads, “Neil Hutchinson. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”
By the creek, Neil says, IN 2001, ENVIRONMENT CANADA DECLARED ROAD SALT TO BE A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, AND THAT REQUIRED THE GOVERNMENT TO SET WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR IT AND TO START PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW IT'S MANAGED. GRAVENHURST BAY HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT 30- OR 35-FOLD IN CHLORIDE CONCENTRATIONS OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS. SO, THAT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF RUNOFF FROM OUR ACTIVITIES OF SPREADING ROAD SALT AROUND IN THE WATERSHED.
[Water gushing, quacking]
Rapids flow beneath a branch. In a lake, birds surface from beneath the water.
Jeyan narrates, THE CANADIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT HAS SET GUIDELINES FOR HOW MUCH SALT FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS CAN HANDLE BEFORE IT STARTS HARMING AQUATIC LIFE. BUT THOSE GUIDELINES MIGHT NOT WORK EVERYWHERE.
Text reads, “Joanne Smith. Citizen Scientist.”
On the boardwalk, Joanne says, THE GUIDELINES, WHICH WERE ACTUALLY DETERMINED NEAR TORONTO BACK IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS CAME IN AT A LEVEL OF 120 MILLIGRAMS PER LITRE.
[Water gushing]
Rapids form in a river.
Joanne continues, BUT WE ARE FAR MORE SENSITIVE UP HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF BEDROCK, WHICH IS GRANITE. AND IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE BEDROCK, WHICH IS DOWN NEAR TORONTO, WHICH IS LIMESTONE. AND THE LIMESTONE BREAKS DOWN, SO IT'S KIND OF BUFFERING THE SOLUTION. WHEREAS UP HERE IN MUSKOKA, WE'VE GOT THE GRANITE WHICH IS RATHER INERT. SO, THE ZOOPLANKTON ARE THE ONES WHICH ARE VERY, VERY FRAGILE. AND WE'RE FINDING THAT THEY ARE DYING AT A MUCH FASTER PACE THAN THEY ARE DOWN IN THE G.T.A., WHERE WE'VE GOT THE HARD WATER.
[Footsteps crunching, door creaking, squeaking]
Zooplankton swim in a water sample. In Muskoka, someone walks up a path and opens a door.
Jeyan narrates, THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED HAVE GAINED A NEW TOOL IN THEIR EFFORTS TO COMBAT EXCESSIVE ROAD SALT USE.
A store employee says, HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
A woman wearing a toque, Alesha, says, HI, I'M ALESHA.
[Background chattering, thunking]
Alesha puts a clipboard on a counter and shakes hands with the employee.
Jeyan narrates, ALESHA BRECKENRIDGE IS THE PROJECT LEAD FOR THE SALTY MUSKOKA PROJECT.
[Background chattering, tapping]
In the store, Alesha says, WE ARE STARTING A NEW PROGRAM TO HELP EVERYBODY IN MUSKOKA REDUCE THEIR EXCESS ROAD SALT.
[Vehicle engine humming]
Beside a road, large piles of dirty snow are higher than a car window.
Jeyan narrates, THANKS TO A FEDERAL GRANT FROM THE CANADIAN WATER AGENCY, THEY NOW HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. ITS ESTIMATED ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF ROAD SALT USE IN MUSKOKA IS APPLIED IN PARKING LOTS, DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.
Text reads, “Alesha Breckenbridge. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”
On a sidewalk, Alesha says, I'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY IN REDUCING SALT USE IN THOSE SITES. SO THAT MEANS TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, TALKING TO SMALL BUSINESSES, AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH WINTER MAINTENANCE CONTRACTORS AND ALSO WITH STORE OWNERS THAT CAN ACTUALLY BRING IN SOME ALTERNATIVES AND COLLECTIVELY JUST RAISE THE AWARENESS OF REDUCING SALT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[Background chattering]
Someone leaves the store, and Alesha greets them on the path.
Jeyan narrates, ONE OF THE BIGGEST MESSAGES SHE'S TRYING TO SPREAD ABOUT ROAD SALT IS THAT A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY.
Alesha holds a bright green cup.
Alesha says, THIS CUP HOLDS 12 OUNCES OF ROAD SALT, BUT I'M JUST USING SAND JUST TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS CUP WILL COVER THIS ENTIRE SPACE.
[Rustling]
Alesha shakes the sand over a sidewalk beside the store. Video footage shows vehicles driving in snowstorms.
Jeyan narrates, ROAD SALT IS A POPULAR CHOICE BECAUSE IT'S CHEAP AND IT WORKS. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ITS USE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE WINTER-RELATED CAR CRASHES, BUT IT HAS ITS LIMITATIONS.
Alesha says, I THINK WE ASSUME THAT IT'S GOING TO WORK IN ALL TEMPERATURES, AND IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T. SO, ROAD SALT, THE EFFECTIVENESS STARTS TO WEAR OFF AFTER LIKE MINUS 10, MINUS 12. ROAD SALT DOESN'T WORK ON ICE ANYMORE. SO, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MAYBE USING SAND AS TRACTION INSTEAD.
On the boardwalk, someone holds a leash with a small, shaggy dog.
Jeyan narrates, IT CAN CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS AND IS HIGHLY CORROSIVE TO BUILDINGS.
Alesha says, I HEARD JUST THE OTHER DAY THAT SOMEBODY SAID, OUR SLIDING DOORS ARE SO RUSTY, AND IT'S CAUSING, AND THEY'RE PUTTING IT DOWN TO ROAD SALT, AND IT IS. IT'S ACTUALLY A CORROSIVE, AND SO IT'S DAMAGING A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND BUILDINGS.
The sign for the Algo Centre Mall in Elliott Lake features a Dollarama sign. Nearby, two storeys of the mall have collapsed.
Jeyan narrates, IN 2012, TWO PEOPLE DIED AND MANY MORE WERE INJURED WHEN THE ROOFTOP PARKING DECK OF THE ALGO CENTRE MALL IN ELLIOTT LAKE CAVED IN. CORROSION CAUSED BY YEARS OF WATER AND ROAD SALT WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
A C.B.C. headline reads, “Corrosion by water, road salt key in Ontario mall collapse.” Another C.B.C. headline reads, “Rusted steel supports in Elliot Lake mall collapse looked like they had spent decades in seawater: forensic study.”
Jeyan continues, A FORENSIC STUDY FOUND THE RUSTED STEEL SUPPORTS LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD SPENT DECADES IN SEAWATER.
[Water gushing]
Neil kneels on the snowy shore of the creek and collects a water sample.
Jeyan continues, THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED DID GET A WIN EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA PASSED A RESOLUTION TO SAFELY REDUCE ITS ROAD SALT USE AND PUSHED THE PROVINCE TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO ADVISE CITIES AND TOWNS ON HOW BEST TO PROTECT FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS FROM SALT. BUT CHANGING POLICY IS JUST ONE PART OF THE PUZZLE. LIABILITY IS ANOTHER MAJOR CHALLENGE.
[Rattling, engines humming]
In a parking lot, someone pushes a small salt spreader. Neil stands by the creek. Text reads, “Neil Hutchinson. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”
Neil says, IF I SLIP AND BREAK MY HIP, THEN I MIGHT SUE THE STORE OWNER, WHO WILL THEN HAVE TO SUE HIS MAINTENANCE PERSON BECAUSE I SLIPPED BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH SALT WAS APPLIED. WELL, THERE ARE VARIOUS, SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS, SOME IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT HAVE GOT A PROGRAM WHERE THESE APPLICATORS CERTIFY THEMSELVES AS SMART ABOUT SALT. SO, IF THEY CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY'VE TAKEN THE COURSE AND HAVE NOT OVERAPPLIED THE SALT, THEN THEY ARE IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION FOR LIABILITY.
[Engine humming]
A snowplow drives over a bridge.
Neil says, SO, WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH OTHER GROUPS AND GET THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE LIABILITY CLAUSES AND HOW WE MIGHT MAKE SURE, IT'S DONE PROPERLY AND STILL INSULATE PEOPLE FROM CLAIMS.
[Gentle music plays, water gushing]
Water gushes beneath the bridge. In town, the man wearing eyeglasses helps Sandy up a steep snowbank. She carries the sampling pole.
Jeyan narrates, ACCORDING TO THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSKOKA WATERSHED, THE PATH TO REDUCING ROAD SALT USE AND PROTECTING THE FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM SO VITAL TO MUSKOKA AND THE REST OF CANADA IS CLEAR. IT STARTS WITH STRONGER POLICIES, BETTER TRAINING AND RAISING AWARENESS.
[Background chattering]
In the store, Alesha gives the employee the bright green cup. Text reads, “Alesha Breckenbridge. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”
On the sidewalk, Alesha says, I OFTEN GET OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT FACE US TODAY. BUT ROAD SALT IS ONE ISSUE THAT IS EASILY REMEDIED. AND WE CAN REDUCE OUR USE.
Text reads, “Neil Hutchinson. Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.”
By the creek, Neil says, WE CAN TAKE ACTION TO GET RID OF POLLUTANTS AND BE EFFECTIVE AND MAINTAIN THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD AROUND US. SO, TO ME, IT'S A MATTER OF THE LAND THAT WE LIVE IN, OUR OBLIGATION NOT TO HARM IT, TO TREAD LIGHTLY AND TO ENJOY IT FOR ALL THAT IT OFFERS.
[Water flowing]
Foam forms on the creek.
End credits. Producer: Jeyan Jeganathan.
Episode: Is Road Salt Destroying Ontario’s Waterways?
