Road Salt Pollution: Local and State-Wide Advocacy - Morning Ag Clips

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The graph below, from a study in New Hampshire, shows where the chloride loads from road salt pollution come from in a watershed that is similar to many in Pennsylvania. The largest source, about 50%, is from parking lots, mainly serviced by private contractors who are currently not subject to any regulation. The next biggest sector is municipal roads, with 27%. State roads contribute 9%, salt piles 7%, and the rest is from smaller sources like private roads, water softeners, food waste, and atmospheric deposition (road salt dust).

Figure 1. Chloride loads measured in Policy – Porcupine New Hampshire watershed region (Burak, et al., 2008)

Best Management Practices

Case studies performed in Minnesota and Wisconsin have demonstrated that by implementing the best management practices listed below, it is possible for municipalities and private contractors to significantly reduce road salt usage and save tens of thousands of dollars in materials and labor costs.

Training of Staff

All road maintenance staff should receive regular training about proper road salt storage, application, environmental impacts, and equipment maintenance. Any training program should emphasize the importance of using as little material as is necessary to make roads safe. This includes road salt storage, application, environmental impacts, and maintenance of equipment.  Any training program should emphasize the importance of using as little material as is necessary to make roads safe.

Brining Before the Storm

Brine is a 23% solution of salt and water that can be mixed up locally. If sprayed on road surfaces ahead of a snow event, it prevents the snow from bonding to the pavement, making it easier to plow the road clean later. Road salt may still need to be applied, but the quantities will be much smaller. Switching to brining can reduce salt usage by 75%.

Brined Street, City of Allentown (Photo: Jennifer Latzgo)

Pre-wetting dry salt

Pre-wetting road salt with brine as it is applied enables the salt to stick better to the road surface, resulting in a 30%  reduction in salt use. It also provides faster activation, making it more effective at melting snow and ice.

Calibrating Spreaders

Regular calibration of salt truck spreaders can reduce salt usage by 50%.  Calibration should be done annually and any time a change is made to the material or equipment.

Use of Live-Edge Plows

Live-edge plows have a flexible, segmented edge that maximizes ground contact. They provide a cleaner scrape on uneven surfaces, meaning less salt is needed and the blades last longer. They can also allow the use of a wider plow, which means that fewer passes are needed to clear roads.

Use of Automated Spreader Controls

Automated spreader controls allow salt truck operators to program the salt application rate according to road speed. This ensures a more even spread and reduces the amount of bounce and scatter. Automated spreader controls allow salt truck operators to program the rate of salt application according to road speed. This ensures a more even spread and reduces the amount of bounce and scatter.

Covered Salt Storage

Salt piles should be covered to prevent salt loss and pollution throughout the year. Smaller piles can be covered with weighted tarps, and large piles should be kept in roofed structures with stormwater management measures in place.

Use of Road Condition Information Systems

A road condition information system is a network of road sensors, weather sensors, and other technology that collects real-time information about road conditions. They help maintenance crews strategically time road salt applications to achieve ice and snow melt with less salt.

Evaluation of Performance

After each winter maintenance event, staff should evaluate performance and analyze any data to determine effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments to future practices.

Maintenance of Equipment

Equipment needs to be rinsed off after usage to prevent corrosion. This rinsing needs to be done in a way that contains salt-contaminated wastewater, which can then be used for pre-wetting brine.

Pennsylvania Road Salt Action

Many people around the state have worked on the issue of road salt pollution locally, but so far, there has been no coordinated state-wide effort to allow the sharing of expertise and resources. So, in January 2025, the Pennsylvania Road Salt Action working group was formed to bring this about. The group includes representatives from numerous organizations and groups and has the following initial goals:

• Develop protocols and strategies for talking to municipalities and large landowners about adopting road salt best management practices.
• Create a website with materials and resources that can be used for education and advocacy.
• Encourage PennDOT to promote their training program for municipalities and emphasize road salt reduction.
• Many private contractors and the property owners who hire them are concerned about liability for slips and falls resulting from the over-application of deicers. We plan to educate decision-makers about the benefits of having a program like the Green Snow Pro program in New Hampshire, where there is limited liability for contractors who take an approved training program that emphasizes best management practices for deicer application and how to keep appropriate records.
• Work with providers to create a state-wide training program for private contractors.
• Find sources of grant money for equipment upgrades and assistance to municipalities.

As the project moves forward, other goals may be added to this list.

We are developing a network of partners along with the working group. These are organizations like watershed groups, conservation organizations, and individuals who are concerned about road salt pollution in their area and want to take action locally. They will be able to use the resources on the Working Group’s website and then share their successes and challenges so that others might benefit from their experiences.

If you or your organization is interested in being involved with this project, please complete this Google Form, and we will be in touch.

References

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. (2019). Road salt: The problem, the solution, and how to get there [report].

Wisconsin Transportation Information Center. (n.d.). Wisconsin Transportation Bulletin No. 22: Pre-Wetting and Anti-Icing – Techniques for Winter Maintenance. Pre-Wetting and Anti-Icing Techniques for Winter Road Maintenance.

Witlum, M. (n.d.). 5 steps to a winter liquids program. Wisconsin Salt Wise.

Spectrum Equipment. (n.d.). How the west is adopting eastern snow removal methods.

Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). How does the road weather information system work?. FHWA Road Weather Management – How Does the Road Weather Information System Work?

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (n.d.). Success stories: Salt reduction and cost saving examples success stories: Salt Reduction and cost saving examples. Success stories: salt reduction and cost saving examples – Minnesota Stormwater Manual.

Madison, A. (2021, February 12). Saltwise Municipal Champions. Municipal champions.

Waterloo motion urges province to help reduce salting in the winter

The City of Waterloo is calling on the provincial government to protect freshwater sources and habitats by developing legislation that governs and regulates the use of road salt.

A motion put forward by Coun. Julie Wright, at a council meeting on Monday, alleges that snow removal and maintenance contractors often overuse salt when clearing roadways and walkways, leading to increased salt runoff into freshwater habitats.

The contractors may overuse salt to prevent slips and falls, which could lead to costly injury claims and lawsuits, it notes.

“The people who are working in winter control also care about the environment, but the risk and liability issues are preventing them from acting in a more environmentally progressive way,” said Wright.

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Wright’s motion urges the provincial government to create enforceable contractor training and provincially endorsed standard best management practices to help small businesses make the right decisions about salt.

“It is an all of society solution that’s required,” said Wright. “It’s gonna take some technological innovation, it’s going to require more research, there might be future alternatives to salt, and better training is one of these factors that is going to open up a pathway.”

The motion was passed unanimously, with Wright adding that it’s just a first step in a province-wide campaign on this issue.

Cleanup of Calgary's streets starts April 14 | CBC News

After months of dumping salt and sand material to fend off harsh winter driving conditions, the time has come for the city to start sweeping the streets. 

Crews will roll out on Monday, April 14, for the annual spring cleanup.

Street sweeping will continue weekdays from 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. until about June 20, depending on the weather, to tidy up more than 17,000 lane-kilometres of roadway around the city. 

Calgarians should watch in their neighbourhoods for "No Parking" signs, which will be in place at least 12 hours before sweeping crews show up.

"The sweeping program [is] very much a collaborative effort," said Chris Hewitt, manager for mobility maintenance at the City of Calgary. "We just ask that people keep those cars off the road, please, so we can do the job and do it nicely."

Any cars found violating the parking rules will be mailed a $80-$120 ticket from Calgary Parking. 

Last year, the city's parking authority issued more than 27,000 tickets for street sweeping violations. 

"The majority of the areas we enforce, it's just a straight ticket," said Charles Gray, patrol and investigations supervisor with Calgary Parking.

"There are some very high dense areas, especially in the core, where we do have to short tow vehicles to get them out of the way for sweepers. But over 90 per cent of our sweeps don't involve towing."

'No Parking' signs will be in place at least 12 hours before street cleaning crews arrive, according to the City of Calgary. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)

The city is also asking residents to make sure obstructions like non-standard driveway ramps, basketball hoops and bins are off the road when sweeping vehicles show up.

Calgarians planning to leave their cars in alleyways on sweeping day should make sure they're parked at least five metres away from the alley entrance to avoid a ticket. 

Residents can plan ahead by using the city's online address search tool to see their scheduled street sweeping date. 

Street sweeping prevents air and water pollution

The program typically collects about 50,000 tons of material, which is either recycled for use in future winters or used as fill in the landfills, according to Hewitt.

Over the winter, city crews dropped around 40,000 tons of "pickle" onto Calgary's roads — less of the salt-gravel mixture than what is typically needed.

"We didn't have quite as much cold and snow this year. We did have that cold spell in February, but outside of that we were able to conserve this year," said Hewitt.

The street sweeping program keeps that material from running off into Calgary's waterways and cuts down on air pollution. 

Street sweeping will not occur on statutory holidays but will go ahead on federal election day, April 28.

N.B. mine reports record sales of road salt after long, harsh winter | Watch News Videos Online

Muskoka groups plan to put road salt issue on federal table

The battle to tackle road salt issues with Muskoka area lakes has been heard at the municipal level, with actions moving toward the provincial table.

Jim Davis, who is a director with the Gull and Silver Lakes Residents’ Association as well as a member of the Friends of the Muskoka Watershed, said the two groups, with support from the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition, are planning to petition Environment and Climate Change Canada — formerly known as Environment Canada — to adjust the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for soft water lakes due to the impact of road salt seeping into area lakes.

“We will be asking them to recognize the current level for chloride at 120 mL/l is too high,” he said. “The guidelines are fine for hard water lakes, but they’re not appropriate for soft water lakes, and our lakes in Muskoka are soft water lakes.”

The aforementioned groups have been working together to combat the road salt issue across the province before turning their gaze to the federal landscape.

The Friends of the Muskoka Watershed estimated in 2022 there was an estimated 15,000 tonnes of road salt in Lake Muskoka.

The District of Muskoka projected roughly one-quarter of lakes sampled by officials now have chloride levels above the 10 mg/L mark.

The safe level of sodium chloride — road salt — for Muskoka-type lakes with their soft, nutrient-poor waters is 10 mg/L of sodium chloride.

Stats from the Gull/Silver lakes association’s 2022 study indicated Gull Lake had a level of 17.9 mg/L of chloride while Jevins Lake, just south of Gravenhurst off Highway 11, is the saltiest lake in Muskoka with 113 mg/L of chloride.

Dr. Neil Hutchinson of Friends of the Muskoka Watershed said the federal government declared in 2001 that road salt is considered a toxic substance.

Neil Hutchinson photo

The cause to take the matter to the federal level has one notable advocate in the form of Dr. Neil Hutchinson, a retired aquatic scientist, Bracebridge resident and director with the Muskoka Watershed Council and Friends of the Muskoka Watershed.

He said while the use of road salt is a provincial matter, he would support the groups’ ask of the federal government to adjust the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for soft water lakes.

“I go one step further because at Friends of Muskoka Watershed, what we would like to do is do our own calculations and do our own review and develop a soft water chloride code line that would apply to our waters in Muskoka,” he added.

Hutchinson went on to say the federal government did in 2001 declare road salt to be a toxic substance.

“Environment Canada and Health Canada did that. And several years later they followed that up by setting the Canadian Water Quality Guideline, which is an estimate of the safe amount of road salt that aquatic life can tolerate,” he said.

The District of Muskoka became the first Ontario municipality to pass a resolution declaring the need for provincial action on salt pollution from road salt.

The resolution, which was approved at the council’s March 17 meeting, commits the district’s ongoing efforts toward the reduction of road salt as much as possible, while maintaining safety on roads and sidewalks.

The resolution also urged the Ontario government to create and fund an expert stakeholder advisory committee to advise the province and municipalities on the best courses of action to protect freshwater ecosystems and drinking water from the impact of salt pollution.

The district also asked the province to work urgently with private contractors in the snow and ice management sector to establish enforceable training and a single set of provincially endorsed standard best management practices.

“It was important to council to support this really unique initiative that has brought together the landscaping industry, environmental groups, and resident associations here in Muskoka and elsewhere,” district chair Jeff Lehman said days following the march 17 meeting.

“ We know that lake health is affected by road salt, and we want to be part of the solution across the Province to this important issue. Muskoka’s own organizations are at the forefront of this already, because in Muskoka our natural environment is so essential to everything about our region.”

Davis said the groups will not be stopping at just petitioning the federal agency on the guidelines on road salt in the coming days.

“We will be delegating to the councils of Bracebridge, Muskoka Lakes, Lake of Bays, and Georgian Bay to ask them to pass the same or similar resolution as the district just passed,” he said, adding Gravenhurst council passed a somewhat similar resolution in July 2023.

The advocates will be working with the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition to get many municipalities across Ontario to pass a similar resolution.

“We are continuing to work with Landscape Ontario to encourage the provincial government to adopt limited liability legislation for private contractors in the snow and ice management sectors, many of them are members of Landscape Ontario.”

Unique challenges impact bulk shipping of rock salt in 2025 | AJOT.COM

It takes more than a pinch of salt to keep the nation’s highways clear of ice, and tariffs will complicate the job.

Many commodities are sold and shipped in bulk quantities. One of the most common is rock salt, which is used for melting ice and snow on roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and other surfaces to ensure safe transportation for motorists or pedestrians. Rock salt is also a critical component of a wide range of industries.

The rock salt industry in the US today is facing an ongoing nationwide shortage of product and the impact of increased tariffs. The US currently imports 25% of the rock salt used domestically, making tariffs a concern. In addition to these unique situations, shipping bulk rock salt at any time presents challenges due to the commodity’s tendency to corrode, moisture sensitivity, and specialized handling and storing requirements.

Road salt (+80,000 tons), was shipped at record levels through Indiana’s ports during recent winter storms.

Rock Salt is Key to Much More Than Road De-Icing

Rock salt is a key ingredient in the production of a variety of chemicals, including sodium chloride (table salt) and hydrochloric acid. In the textile industry, rock salt is often used as a dye enhancer, ensuring that colors fully penetrate fabrics.

Not only is rock salt used to improve the flavor of foods, but it also plays a part in food processing, helping extend the shelf life of food products. Rock salt is used in water softener systems to temper the hardness of minerals, improving water quality for domestic and commercial use.

Animal nutrition depends on rock salt to provide essential minerals, particularly sodium, for livestock, which are crucial for their health and well-being. Rock salt is also used in drilling fluids and for storage of liquefied petroleum gases and is an ingredient in the detergent and metal processing industries.

A Nationwide Shortage of Rock Salt Impacts Availability, Prices

The US is facing a nationwide shortage of rock salt that began with winter weather and is still impacting some regions well into March. According to rock salt producers, the current nationwide shortage has been caused by “unprecedented winter demand” and supply chain issues.

The result has been rising prices and limited availability for businesses and municipalities, with some states declaring a state of emergency. Some municipalities explored alternative solutions, such as mixing salt with sand, while others have been restricting salt use to main roads and intersections.

The long period of cold weather events and heavy snowfall across the U.S. in multiple regions caused an unpredicted increase in the demand for rock salt, exceeding supplies from domestic and foreign sources. Some suppliers have limited sales to existing customers and those with existing contracts, posing a challenge to independent removal companies.

To provide some perspective regarding the magnitude of the problem, American Rock, a major producer of rock salt, reported that in 2024, the company shipped 1.8 million tons of salt for the entirety of the winter season; this winter through January 2025 alone the company has already shipped over 2.1 million tons of salt.

Companies like American Rock Salt are taking steps to meet the demand. In addition to increasing its production of rock salt by 25%, the company said it was opening reserve stockpiles, purchasing new underground equipment to mine additional salt, and constructing more access points to its underground converter and bin system to help transport more salt to processing equipment.

Tariffs Likely to Impact Rock Salt Pricing

While the current rock salt shortage is expected to come to an end as soon as winter weather becomes less prevalent across the U.S., a more long-term challenge exists for rock salt importers. The US imports salt from Mexico, Canada, Chile, the Bahamas, and Egypt. According to the U.S. import data, the nation imported salt worth $687.69 million and 15.54 million tons in 2023-24. There are more than 2700 active salt importers in the US buying salt from more than 2400 suppliers worldwide.

The proposed Trump administration tariffs of 25% for imports from Mexico and Canada could significantly increase the cost of salt. These increases come at a time when the industry is unable to absorb additional costs. According to salt producers, operating costs have been increasing for more than a year due to higher transportation and labor costs.

The US Geological Survey reports that the average cost of rock salt increased by 3.5 percent in 2024. Import costs from key suppliers like Canada and Chile were already rising due to logistical bottlenecks. Margins for salt producers are low in comparison to a potential 25% tariff. Many salt producers have said they would pass the additional tariff costs on to clients, ultimately impacting consumers.

Special Handling Requirements

The bulk rock salt supply chain is impacted by the product’s corrosive nature and moisture vulnerability, logistical challenges and seasonality, handling and safety issues, and environmental concerns.

Salt is corrosive and can cause wear and tear on equipment, including containers, storage facilities, and vehicles, leading to increased maintenance and shorter equipment lifespans. Salt needs to be shipped in containers that are clean and dry, and containers must be free of other commodities that could release moisture.

These factors can all result in higher operating costs for transportation providers that handle bulk salt shipments. The ability of the providers to pass these increases to their salt-producing customers is affected by the rate environment at the time and the relationships between salt producers and transportation providers.

Rock salt is most needed during winter storms. Carriers must travel on the roads that rock salt is meant to improve to deliver orders of the product. In general, handling salt can generate dust, potentially posing health risks and environmental concerns, creating a need for controlled application methods.

When salt arrives in bulk, it tends to have compacted into crystalline lumps, which makes the unloading process more demanding on equipment. For safety, it is important for anyone whose job requires handling salt to wear appropriate protective gear, including gloves, goggles, and a dust mask to prevent inhalation of salt dust. Bulk salt can impact the environment. When it is stored outside, runoff must be properly controlled to prevent contaminating streams, wells, or groundwater with salt runoff.

Outsource Options

For salt producers that do not have the resources to navigate the intricacies of transporting salt or other commodities, there are options to outsource. One example is Bulk Connection, a licensed, bonded and insured freight broker providing on-demand freight capacity for liquid and dry bulk shipments. The company began in 1987 as bulk shipping specialists and states that it still maintains the largest network of bulk carriers in North America.

SDG Counties commit to updated Salt Management Plan - The Review Newspaper

At the Monday, March 17 meeting, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry (SDG) Counties council adopted updates to its Salt Management Plan (SMP) for roads. The SMP functions as a roadmap and report card, documenting the progress that municipalities have made in becoming more environmentally responsible through sustainable investments and long-term conservation efforts with respect to the use of road salt.

A report to council explained that road salt is a product required to keep roads safe during winter weather operations. In total, SDG is responsible for conducting winter maintenance on 981 kilometres of roadway and 191 bridges.

As part of its environmental goals, SDG Counties works to minimize salt use while balancing community and road safety needs.

SDG is already using many of the current technologies available, keeping it at the forefront of best environmental practices. The SMP aligns with SDG’s Green Living strategic priorities.

Historically, SDG has purchased and utilized approximately 25,805 tonnes of salt annually between 2005 and 2022, with significant fluctuations in recent years.

Submitted photo of the historic road salt use in SDG Counties.

To continuously improve the SMP, SDG will conduct period reviews of industry practices, implement detailed documentation, provide annual staff training, and update policies and procedures as needed.

With council’s unanimous approval, the updated SMP sets the stage for continued innovation in balancing winter road safety and environmental responsibility within the region. Council will receive a full update once the finalized revisions are implemented.

NYC will eventually have to abandon part of its water supply if it keeps getting saltier

The suburban reservoirs that supply 10% of New York City’s vaunted drinking water are getting saltier due to decades of road salt being spread near the system — and they will eventually have to be abandoned if nothing is done to reverse the trend, city officials warn.

The plug wouldn’t have to be pulled until early next century, according to a new study. But the soaring saltiness could eventually affect the famous taste of the Big Apple’s water, which is sometimes called the champagne of tap water, and poses a challenge to managers of a system that serves more than 9 million people.

“The conclusion of this study is that if we don’t change our ways, in 2100 the Croton Water System becomes a nice recreational facility, but it ceases to be a water supply,” Rohit Aggarwala, the city’s environmental protection commissioner, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “And that will directly impact everybody who drinks New York City water.”

The Croton system dates back to 1842 — when the first Croton Aqueduct began delivering water to a reservoir in what is now Manhattan’s Central Park — and is now comprised of 12 reservoirs and three controlled lakes north of the city.

The report found the concentration of chlorides — an indicator of salinization — tripled from 1987 to 2019 in the system’s main reservoir, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of the city line. Concentrations are on track to exceed the state’s maximum contaminant level for chloride by 2108.

The report found salinity increases across the sprawling system of city reservoirs in upstate New York. However, the problem is far less of an issue in the Delaware and Catskill watersheds west of the Hudson River, which supply about 90% of the city’s water. That’s likely because there’s far less development in those watersheds.

Road salt is considered a main driver of the increase, along with sewage treatment plant discharges and water softeners. Millions of tons of rock salt is spread on U.S. roads each winter as a cheap and effective way to reduce accidents.

“It’s really a problem across the country in areas with a lot of snow,” said Shannon Roback, science director for the environmental group Riverkeeper. “We’ve seen rising levels of salt in water in the Northeast, in the Midwest and in most places that use road salt.”

Roback noted that high salt levels in drinking water pose a host of environmental concerns and can be harmful to people on low-sodium diets.

Aggarwala said the city has a few options.

Salt can be removed from water supplies through reverse osmosis systems, though the technology is expensive and requires a lot of energy. The city also could mix Croton water with less salty water from its other two watersheds. But the commissioner said that would not be a solution for the more than a dozen municipalities north of New York City that draw water from the Croton system.

City officials believe reducing the use of road salt locally is the most sensible option. That could involve persuading state and local road crews to use alternatives to salt, or sensors on plows to gauge road surface temperatures, or shutting off the applicators when plows make U-turns or K turns.

State Sen. Pete Harckham, who represents the area, called the new report alarming, but not surprising given a number of community wells taken offline due to high chloride levels. The Democrat is sponsoring bills that would address the road salt issue, including one that would study the issue in the Croton watershed.

“State agencies, local governments, everyone needs to come together on this,” he said, “because this is a real challenge.”

Muskoka first in Ontario to call for provincial action on road salt pollution

As the dust settles from the provincial election, Muskoka is wasting no time when it comes to tackling road salt impacts.

On Monday, Muskoka became the first Ontario jurisdiction to pass a resolution declaring the need for provincial action on salt pollution from road salt.

The District of Muskoka council passed a resolution which asks the province to both advance limited liability for the snow and ice management sector and to create a stakeholder advisory committee to advise the province on managing salt pollution in Ontario’s lakes and rivers.

The resolution was initiated and moved by Muskoka District chair Jeff Lehman, Barrie's former mayor, who issued the following statement: “The district is pleased to work with local cottage associations, the landscaping industry, and environmental groups to help mitigate the impacts of salt and ensure the right amount is used in the right way in the right places. Building on previous district work and commitments, we look forward to continuing to improve lake health and provide leadership in reducing the environmental impact of road salt in Muskoka.”

Groups across Ontario are coming together with clarity to make sure the impacts of winter road salt are on the provincial agenda of Ontario’s newly re-elected government.

Ontario is Canada’s No. 1 user of winter salt, applying approximately two million to three million tonnes of salt each winter. Road salt is a known toxic substance designated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act because of tangible threats including serious, irreversible environmental and public health damages. Other impacts to drinking water sources, critical public infrastructure (roads, bridges, buildings), and private property are also important concerns.

Currently, there are no provincial policies or regulations for road salts, including no salt use standards, required training, enforcement mechanisms, or protections against salt pollution.

This policy void has created liability issues for snow and ice management contractors and has left municipalities out in the cold to deal with salt pollution issues locally. People across Ontario are coming together to work together toward provincial action on salt pollution which protects water-based ecosystems and drinking water sources.

Joe Salemi, executive director of Landscape Ontario, says, “Landscape Ontario has been urging the provincial government to make legislative changes to alleviate the disproportionate liabilities currently shouldered by Ontario’s snow and ice contractors. We are also developing training and accreditation programs to establish a standard of professionalism for everyone working in this critical sector. Once a legislated mechanism is in place that more equitably addresses liabilities, snow and ice management professionals will be free from fear of litigation and therefore will be able to use the right amount of road salt with appropriate application rates. To the benefit of the environment, this legislative change is estimated to reduce the amount of road salt used every winter by nearly 30 per cent.”

Municipalities, conservation authorities, non-governmental organizations, and businesses alike have been warning about the growing impact of salt pollution and oversalting for decades, to no avail. Now, they’re banding together to ensure this issue gets the attention and action it needs.

The Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition is leading this initiative to pass resolutions of support for provincial action on salt pollution to get the provincial government to take this issue and need action seriously. They say Ontario will soon see many more jurisdictions passing these resolutions.

Dani Lindamood, campaigns director at Water Watchers and lead organizer of the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition, shared, “Municipal leaders see this issue as a no-brainer to support because they’ve been dealing with the impacts for decades. We have strong support in critical jurisdictions like Waterloo and Hamilton, where the resolution is making its way through the municipal review process and will soon be before councils for support. We have meetings in Toronto and many other cities with committees and conservation authorities who are keen to learn how they can support our work. We are optimistic other municipalities, conservation authority boards, and businesses will join us in ensuring this issue is taken on by the province by passing their own resolutions.”

“I’m headed to the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority at the end of March, and am already in discussions with Barrie and Georgina, on Lake Simcoe,” says Claire Malcolmson, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. “Lake Simcoe is the poster child for what you don’t want to happen: The entire lake is projected to be at the chronic salt pollution level within a generation, in 33 years. Councils with waterfront should be shouting from the rooftops for provincial action on this issue.”

A draft resolution can be seen here. The Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition invites anyone invested in mitigating the impacts of salt pollution to consider passing this resolution of support for provincial action on winter salt pollution. Other cities considering resolutions include Waterloo, Hamilton, and Durham with high hopes for Toronto, Ottawa, and Sudbury to follow soon.

Salt pollution needs a provincial-level solution to make meaningful, long-term strides to reduce water, land, and human health impacts. Individuals can help elevate this issue by going to www.saltcoalition.ca and submitting a comment to Ontario officials that we need urgent action on this issue. Businesses can support the campaign goals, too, by signing a letter to the province here.

Committee directs City of Ottawa staff to review road salt use

The City of Ottawa is being asked to review its salt use on roads and sidewalks during the winter months.

The Environment and Climate Change Committee approved a motion from Coun. Rawlson King directing staff to conduct a “focused review of Ottawa’s road salt use,” with an emphasis on its environmental impact and its effect on local waterways.

“I want to be clear here, this motion is not about eliminating the use of road salt,” King said during Tuesday’s meeting. “As a winter city, it’s firstly about fact finding so as a city we can ensure the right balance between maintaining public safety and protecting our environment.”

City of Ottawa crews prepare for a winter storm on Thursday. Approximately 500 pieces of equipment are available to be deployed, including salt trucks, sidewalk plows and loaders. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)

Some residents complained through the winter about too much road salt on sidewalks and at OC Transpo stops. Ecology Ottawa called for a review of salt-use practices, showing photos of excessive salt through the winter during Tuesday’s city committee meeting.

“We could accomplish a lot simply by following basic standards,” William van Geest, executive director of Ecology Ottawa, told councillors.

Van Geest points out the Ottawa Riverkeeper found the City of Gatineau is using two-thirds less salt than Ottawa through the winter.

King’s motion directs the Public Works department to report back to the committee on the measures to ensure “salt application aligns with environmental and climate change considerations” while maintaining safety during the snow and ice storms in the winter.

King’s motion also recommends the city report back on any assessments conducted on the environmental impact of salt use levels and the methods used to monitor the impact of road salt on waterways. Staff are also being asked to report back on the feasibility of incorporating road salt management into the Ottawa River Action Plan.

Salt on a landing on the stairs at the Hurdman LRT station. Jan. 24, 2025. (Ted Raymond/CTV News Ottawa)

Coun. Tim Tierney says OC Transpo and private companies need to go on a salt diet.

“I’m looking forward to a salt management practice; what we do on our city streets, our city roads,” Tierney said, noting Ottawa does use salt and grit on the roads. “We actually do have pretty strict practices for what we do in our wheelhouse, the Public Works wheelhouse, but I think our friends at OC have to clean up and, certainly, private properties.”

The Ottawa Riverkeeper is urging the City of Ottawa and other municipalities to identify areas to restrict the use of road salt, after a study found high levels of chloride in water samples that are harming aquatic wildlife and the environment across the national capital region.

Chloride is a key component of road salt.

According to a report released in January by the Ottawa Riverkeeper, between the winters of 2019-2020 and 2023-24, community scientists collected more than 500 water samples at 45 different locations across Ottawa and Gatineau. The report says only 10 per cent of samples were below the safe level for chloride, while 45 per cent exceeded the threshold for “acute toxicity.”

The report recommends municipalities identify areas to restrict the application of road salt and develop and regularly update its Road Salt Management Plan.