salt – East Metro Water

Salt continues to pollute Minnesota lakes and streams

By: angiehongmn January 20, 2022January 18, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanchloride, chloride impairment, featured, salt, water pollution11 Comments

Once concentrations are high enough, the chloride becomes toxic to fish and invertebrates and can even prevent lakes from turning over the in spring and fall.

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…

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…

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.