Salt Smartly This Winter

From the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO):

Well, Twin Cities… the winter snow has officially arrived, and with it comes that annual moment when many of us instinctively reach for the nearest bag of salt. But before we all go full “salt everything, everywhere, all at once,” here’s a winter science reminder worth keeping in your back pocket:

Salt doesn’t disappear. It doesn’t melt. It doesn’t biodegrade. Once chloride washes into our lakes, rivers, and groundwater, it stays there forever. A little truly does go a long way… and stays a long time.

Just one teaspoon of salt is enough to permanently pollute five gallons of water. And in the Twin Cities, 78 percent of the salt we use ends up in our local . That’s a big deal for our rivers, ecosystems, and fish, who absolutely do not need any surprise brine in their habitat.

The good news is we all have the power to make a huge difference with a just few small winter habits. Here’s how to salt smart this season:

• Shovel early and often. If you clear snow before it gets compacted, you may not need salt at all.

• Use only what you need. A coffee mug of salt (about 1 pound) is enough for roughly 10 sidewalk squares.

• Skip salt when it’s below 15°F. Tradition salt (sodium chloride) simply doesn’t work at very cold temperatures. Other products made of magnesium chloride, calcium chloride or urea have different melting temperatures, but the bottom line is that if it’s too cold, none of them will work.

• Use sand or grit for traction on extremely cold days when salt won’t melt anything.

• Sweep up extra salt and grit after ice melts. That keeps it out of storm drains and out of the Mississippi.

Each of these actions helps keep chloride pollution out of our water, protects infrastructure, and saves money, all while making winter safer for everyone.

As the snow keeps coming (and we know it will), thank you for being a part of a smarter, cleaner, more river-friendly winter season. Our waterways, and all the creatures that call them home, are quietly cheering you on.