Winter weather is approaching and it’s important to be mindful of the amount of road salt used to de-ice surfaces. One teaspoon of road salt can permanently contaminate 5 gallons of freshwater. Increased salinity levels make freshwater environments toxic to aquatic life as well as mammals and birds that rely on freshwater systems. As little as 12 ounces of salt can melt 20 feet of driveway. Using excessive amounts of salt does not increase its effectiveness. Once salt is applied, sweep up excess salt for later use. Road salt does not work when temperatures dip below 15 degrees or when ice is more than ½ inch thick. In these situations it will be more effective to use materials that increase traction such as sand, bird seed, or cat litter. Biodegradable de-icers can be used in place of or in conjunction with road salt to melt ice and add traction. These alternatives include beet juice, molasses, and pickle juice. Visit respectourwaters.org to learn more about snow and ice prevention.
