Did you know that almost all of the salt we apply to pavement ends up in our water, making our freshwater less and less fresh each year. In fact, just one teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water. This year, Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District is joining other Northeast Ohio partners in a nationwide effort to promote Winter Salt Awareness Week (Monday, January 22 – Friday, January 26, 2024). Founded by the Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership to help showcase the growing cost and threats of road salt, Winter Salt Awareness Week provides helpful resources and features daily livestreams from ecologists, transportation experts and other salt-wise speakers from across the United States. Learn more about the environmental toll of deicers, salts in our drinking water, actions that municipalities are taking, and how residents can get involved by visiting wisaltwise.com/.
Contrary to public perception, using more salt than is necessary doesn’t actually make our roads or sidewalks safer. Excess salt does, however, prematurely age infrastructure and damage freshwater resources. Townships, villages, and municipalities across the state are dialing in salt use through improved mechanical removal, calibration, and the precision application of deicers. By focusing on first removing as much snow as possible, and then right-sizing salt applications, residents and businesses can cut down how much we spend on salt, protect our freshwater lakes and rivers, and keep pavements safe.
As watershed residents, we know that our daily habits and backyard behaviors inadvertently yet collectively contribute to stormwater pollution. Though we may not be able to control how much salt is put on the roads, we can control our own salting behaviors on our driveways and sidewalks. Simple changes to the amount and ways that we salt can greatly improve the health of our watershed without jeopardizing our safety. The following savvy and sensible salting tips are easy to remember and will help save your money and time. This winter remember to use the right S.A.L.T.
STUFF – Salt (sodium chloride) only works above 15 degrees Fahrenheit (F). For colder temperatures use a small amount of sand for added traction, or switch to an ice melting product designed to work at colder temperatures. Products containing calcium chloride can melt ice in temperatures as low as -25 degrees F. Remember that chloride in deicers is what burns your pets’ paws and deteriorates concrete.
AMOUNT – Use a gentle hand and spread only enough salt to do the job! One 12-ounce coffee mug full of salt is enough to effectively deice 250 square feet, which is equivalent to about 10 sidewalk squares. Remember that more salt does not mean more melting! Just like fertilizer on your lawn, too much only damages soil and pollutes water. Also, be sure to sweep up extra salt and sand once the ice melts to ensure it doesn’t wash into a ditch, stormdrain, or nearby stream. If it is visible on dry pavement, its job is done.
LOCATION – Spread salt only on the surfaces of your driveway and sidewalk that need to be deiced and never on the lawn, at the base of trees, or near a stream or stormdrain. Consider locations where paths through the snow can be created rather than removing all of the snow.
TIME – Salt works best when it is applied right before the snow falls or right after snow is removed from your driveway or sidewalk, and never when rain is in the forecast. Also shoveling and removing snow and ice during a snowstorm reduces the amount of salt required for deicing and increases the efficiency of your efforts.
The old adage says “it takes a village” and when it comes to salting our neighborhoods, we can significantly reduce the negative impacts of sodium chloride within our village with increased awareness and proper application. Armed with knowledge and shovels, Winter Salt Awareness Week is our time to commit to sensible salting for the safety of both our roadways and waterways.
