CUT THE SALT WISCONSIN REDUCING ROAD SALT BENEFITS ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY
KATHRYN A. KAHLER
Road salt helps keep Wisconsin’s highways and sidewalks safer in winter, but using more salt than needed comes at a price. Research shows that drinking water supplies and freshwater ecosystems are becoming increasingly salty in northern regions around the globe. Just one teaspoon of salt is enough to pollute five gallons of water. This salinization can cause the release of potentially harmful radionuclides and metal ions like radium, mercury and lead into the water. Salt causes the deterioration of roads and
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infrastructure, vehicles and vegetation and can contribute to human health concerns. In lakes and streams, it inhibits plant growth, impairs reproduction in some aquatic species and reduces biodiversity. But the news isn’t all bad. Municipalities around the state have adopted best management practices for salt use that have started to make a big difference. They may wet salt before application — which keeps salt from bouncing off roads and into ditches — and employ anti-icing techniques.