Winter is among us, which means slippery roads and sidewalks. We all know salt can be a good tool to melt ice on slippery surfaces, but it comes at an environmental cost. When the snow melts, the de-icing salt, which contains chloride, runs into nearby lakes and can harm our fish, ducks, and other aquatic life. How can you make a difference?
- Check the temperature: Is it too cold for salt? Most salts stop working around 15 degrees (F).
- Apply less than you think: Adding more salt does not equal more melting.
- Clean-up any extra salt: If you can see sand or salt on dry pavement, it’s
means that it is no longer working and could be washed away.
More information on how to reduce salt usage this winter can be found in January's Highlights here.