road salt – East Metro Water

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.

Salting the Earth

By: angiehongmn November 26, 2019November 25, 2019

Groundwater, Keeping water cleanfeatured, road salt, salt, water, water pollutionLeave a Comment

Dec. 2 presentation will highlight impacts of road salt on local water resources When the City of Carthage fell at the end of the Third Punic War, 146 BC, victorious Romans pulled Phoenecian ships out of the harbor and set them on fire before moving through the city, house to house, rounding up and selling…

Minnesotans Call for New Legislation to Promote Smart Salting

By: angiehongmn February 7, 2018

Aquatic Biology, Groundwater, Keeping water cleanclean water, groundwater, lakes, road salt, streams, water pollution, WaterShed Partners1 Comment

Written in partnership with Watershed Partners: http://www.cleanwatermn.org More than ten years ago, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) came to a frightening realization. After testing lakes and streams in the Twin Cities metro area, they discovered that chloride levels in many were climbing, and that some were already too salty to support fish. Further testing…

Smart Salting – Save Money, Do Good

By: angiehongmn December 29, 2016

Groundwater, Keeping water cleanchloride, clean water, groundwater, ice, road saltLeave a Comment

Many homeowners and most businesses use way more salt than necessary. In reality, a relatively light dusting with about 3-inches of space between each granule of salt is enough to melt ice effectively without wasting salt.

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.

Wearing high heels in the winter and other things you shouldn’t do

By: angiehongmn December 11, 2014

Keeping water cleanchloride impairment, groundwater, lakes, road salt, streams, water pollutionLeave a Comment

We have a growing problem in Twin Cities area lakes, streams and even wells that is almost entirely caused by the 365,000 tons of salt we are putting down on roads, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks each year.

I won’t be home for Christmas

By: angiehongmn November 18, 2011

Keeping water cleangroundwater, road salt, water pollutionLeave a Comment

Salt is only part of the equation when it comes to keeping our roads safe in the winter.