Earlier this month we talked about the dangers of snowmelt—the runoff causes neighborhoods to flood, and deposits pollution as it moves. One specific form of winter pollution that snowmelt is notorious for: salt.

Many communities try to keep their residents safe by utilizing road salt or grit to melt the ice and create more traction for cars and pedestrians alike. However, while it is effective in the short term, it is not always feasible to use because of weather conditions, and many people end up improperly applying the rock salt and using too much. As a result, the nearby water bodies and surrounding environment and inhabitants are poisoned. Groundwater becomes contaminated, while other water bodies face algal blooms. Salt enters the air as saline dust, contributing further to air pollution. The soil salinity also increases, making it nigh impossible to consistently produce healthy crops.

It’s not just lakes and streams that deal with excess salt; the oceans are slowly becoming more saline and acidified. In turn, the rising sea levels are encroaching on freshwater bodies and reservoirs that people rely on for clean drinking water. This creates further cascading effects, not limited to firefighting wildfires in California: the even-saltier seawater can damage metal equipment, reduce the cooling effect of the water, and disrupt the sensitive ecology, making it a less-than-desirable resource.

Rock salt is corrosive and runs the risk of destroying infrastructure and cars, yet salt usage has only gone up in recent years: 15-32 million metric tons of road salt is used annually! With the increased usage also comes increased demands for salt mines, especially in Michigan, even though mining inherently damages the local environments and harms residents. However, by being salt smart and/or relying on rock salt alternatives, you can help prevent pollution in your community. Refer to the hyperlinked articles for more information and be sure to check out this webinar the EPA created for more strategies to reduce road salt pollution!