Salt, snow, and sustainability: Protecting our water resources

February 15, 2024| Environment

By: Michela Sales

The Hidden Costs of Road Salt

Winter snowstorms can be filled with the joys of fresh, white fallen snow, days off from school, and winter activities like skiing or snowboarding with friends. They can also bring safety concerns and the need to de-ice our roads, driveways, and sidewalks. While road salt is readily available and economical to use, it can have a negative impact on our drinking water supplies, local water bodies, and the environment.

Road salt doesn’t just stay on our roads and sidewalks, it eventually runs off impervious surfaces in rain or melted snow, seeping into drinking water wells, and running into streams, rivers, and lakes. According to Erin Stretz, Assistant Director of Science at The Watershed Institute and coordinator of the NJ Watershed Watch Network, this added salt can negatively impact water quality and aquatic life, while allowing salt-tolerant species, such as mosquitoes and algae, to thrive.

Salt Monitoring

In order to monitor the effects of road salt on freshwater streams and lakes, the New Jersey Watershed Watch Network launched the NJ Salt Watch Monitoring Program in December 2020. Since then, hundreds of volunteers have collected thousands of chloride measurements across the state. The Lake Hopatcong Foundation organizes volunteers to sample and share data from six locations around Lake Hopatcong. This data collection is vital in understanding the magnitude of the problem caused by road salt, guiding our conservation efforts, and providing municipalities with valuable information to help refine their road salt strategies.

What Can You Do?

To mitigate the environmental impact of road salt, homeowners can adopt simple yet effective measures:

• Explore Alternatives: Wood ash, sawdust, and coffee grounds are all options that can be used in smaller spaces and can reduce your environmental impact. You can also search the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website for safer choice-certified products.
   
• Shovel Early: Clear snow from driveways and sidewalks promptly to minimize the need for de-icing.
   
• Use Salt Sparingly: Apply only the necessary amount of salt to treat your driveway or walkway. A 12-ounce mug is sufficient to treat a 20-foot driveway. Leave about three inches of space between salt granules.
   
• Reuse Excess: Sweep up any excess salt to prevent runoff and reuse sparingly, as needed.
   
• Engage Contractors: If hiring snow-clearing services, discuss options to limit salt usage and encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly practices.

By implementing these practices, you can play a crucial role in protecting the health of Lake Hopatcong. Together, we can all work to protect our water sources and the environment.