As winter weather persists, road salt is often a necessity for municipalities and homeowners to ensure safe travels, whether it’s driving to the store, or walking to your mailbox. Salt lowers water’s freezing point, accelerates the melting process, and clears our roads and walkways faster. But what is its impact on the water quality of lakes, ponds, and streams?
Snow melt and stormwater runoff wash the salt into nearby waterways. Salt can also seep into groundwater or accumulate along roadsides and in soils, to later be transported to waterways during future storms, long after the winter season has passed.
Saltier conditions can affect the entire lake ecosystem. Aquatic organisms, such as dragonflies, mayflies and stoneflies (all great food sources for fish!), frogs, and native plants, can all be harmed by an increase in salt content. These conditions can be a stressor for organisms throughout the entire year, not just in the winter, as salt continues to move through groundwater and is carried by runoff. Additionally, some studies have indicated that the salinization of water (which increases water density), could affect the lakes mixing, which plays a crucial role in the oxygen levels at lower depths of our waterbodies.
Salt persists with little to no degradation, making it extremely difficult to remove. The best solution is reducing our use and preventing risks of contamination. So, what can you do to help?
1. Shovel: Clear snow early and often. Less snow and ice means less need for salt!
2. Scatter: Use salt sparingly, spreading it with plenty of space between the grains. You only need a 12 oz mug’s worth to salt an entire 20 foot driveway.
3. Sweep: After things have melted and cleared, sweep up the extra salt to be reused for later storms and prevent it from washing away.
4. Switch: Remember, with temperatures 15 degrees F or lower, salt will be ineffective. This is the time to switch to sand or another deicer.
Interested in learning more? The last week of January is Winter Salt Week. Hosted by Salt Wise, this organization is offering a free webinar series that you can register for here.
You can also request a free Salt Watch Kit to test your local waterways and add your findings to the national database!
This article was included in 30 Mile’s January 2026 newsletter. To view the full newsletter, click here.