chloride pollution – East Metro Water

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency launches new SMART salt module for rural communities

By: angiehongmn January 31, 2026January 29, 2026

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Uncategorizedchloride pollution, featured, Minnesota, MPCA, rural roads, salt, winterLeave a Comment

Road maintenance in rural communities like Grant and Stillwater Township is significantly different than in larger cities like Oakdale and Woodbury. A new rural roads training module aims to help small communities stretch their limited public works budgets while also protecting local lakes and streams from salt and sediment pollution.

What’s in the water you drink?

By: angiehongmn July 28, 2022

Groundwaterchloride pollution, drinking water, featured, groundwater, nitrates, wells2 Comments

Free well water testing clinic – Aug. 18-19 at Scandia Community Center

Salt a growing problem for Minnesota’s water

By: angiehongmn October 26, 2021October 29, 2021

Aquatic Biology, Groundwater, Keeping water cleanchloride pollution, featured, MPCA, road salt, salt, water softenersLeave a Comment

Overall, the MPCA has determined that road salt is responsible for 42% of the chloride in groundwater, lakes and streams. Two other major sources of chloride that are less well-known include agricultural fertilizers (23% of the total chloride) and water softeners, which account for up to 65% of the chloride discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Frozen fish and salty toes

By: angiehongmn January 7, 2021February 4, 2021

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Outdoor Adventureschloride pollution, featured, fishing, ice fishing, Minnesota lakes, road salt, saltLeave a Comment

One growing concern for urban lakes and streams is pollution from winter road salt. Currently, there are 50 lakes and streams in Minnesota that are listed as impaired due to elevated chlorides and another 75 that are “nearly” impaired.

Salt levels are rising in Minnesota waters and it’s not just winter to blame

By: angiehongmn May 28, 2019May 28, 2019

Keeping water cleanchloride pollution, featured, Minnesota lakes, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, salt, streams2 Comments

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would like you to think about salt, and not just because we saw snow on May 19. As chloride concentrations continue to rise in lakes, rivers, and groundwater around Minnesota, the agency is working with partners to develop a Statewide Chloride Management Plan that will help to keep our freshwater…

GreenCorps members prescribe a low-salt diet for Minnesota waters

By: angiehongmn January 14, 2019

Keeping water cleanchloride pollution, clean water, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, MPCA, saltLeave a Comment

Water softeners are a surprising part of the problem In 1961, the newly elected President John F. Kennedy launched a program to help mitigate poverty around the world and spread American ideas and goodwill. The Peace Corps program immediately captured the attention of young people around the country, and thousands of applications poured in for…

Salting the Earth

By: angiehongmn December 21, 2015November 29, 2018

Groundwater, Keeping water cleanchloride pollution, featured, groundwater, lakes, road salt, streamsLeave a Comment

Throughout history, pouring salt on the land has symbolized a curse not only for current inhabitants, but also for future generations.

Local communities working to keep roads safe and water fresh

By: angiehongmn December 7, 2010

Keeping water clean, Local Achievementschloride impairment, chloride pollution, deicing, groundwater, non-point source pollution, salt, south washington watershed district, stormwater pollution, Washington Conservation District, water pollution, winter road maintenanceLeave a Comment

Almost all of the salt spread on our roads and parking lots eventually migrates to surface or ground waters and like sugar in your morning coffee, once itâ€™s there, itâ€™s almost impossible to remove.