Keeping roads and parking areas free of ice and snow is an essential part of modern life. However, road salt – one of the main tools used to achieve this task – contains chloride as its principal ingredient. Chloride does more than melt snow and ice; it can harm local lakes and rivers. Other minor ingredients of commercial road salt include arsenic and cyanide. Overusing chloride can also damage residential greenery such as grass, plants, and trees, reversing any beautification efforts you have made.
As snow and ice melt, they drain into landscaped areas or storm sewers, and then to natural bodies of water. Waters from a deiced area contain high levels of chlorides, which do not degrade, and there is no cost effective way to remove it. Excessive levels of chlorides can severely impair the ability of plants to absorb water and nutrients. These negative effects are common to both aquatic and terrestrial plants in residential gardens, landscaped areas, and rivers. Fish and other aquatic organisms are then impacted because of polluted habitats.
Roads must remain clear to protect public safety, and in no way is it being suggested that we cease the application road salt. However, many communities are already employing alternative technologies to deice their roads, such as anti-icing, which applies salt brine to roads when a storm is forecasted, and prevents the formation of ice. Residents can use a similar treatment method by purchasing a deicing alternative to salt available from some grocers or hardware stores. If you must use salt, consider the “Just Enough” principle – applying just enough salt to keep your driveway and sidewalks ice-free.
Steps you can take to help reduce the impacts of road salt:
Article donated by
Christopher S. Hartman, CPESC, CPSWQ, CESSWI, Storm water Permit Coordinator Chagrin Valley Engineering, Ltd, 22999 Forbes Road, Suite B, Cleveland, Ohio 44146-5667 440-439-1999 (Office) 216-287-1813 (cell) 440-439-1969 (Fax)
Under requirement of the Ohio EPA’s NPDES Phase II permit