Waterways Under A-Salt!
Millions of tons of road salt, usually sodium chloride, are applied to our roads, sidewalks and parking lots every year to help keep these areas safe and to reduce accidents. There’s also the salt that many Canadians apply to driveways and walkways for the same reasons. While it serves a valuable purpose, the chloride doesn’t just stay on these surfaces. Eventually, high volumes of salt find their way into nearby water bodies through runoff and leaching. It is not uncommon for some of Canada’s waters to have chloride concentrations above the acute exposure thresholds, even in summer!
High chloride concentrations can impact many organisms including species of zooplankton, mussels, insects, amphibians, fish and plants. It can even contaminate our drinking water.
With the use of road salt being one of the biggest culprits in making our waterways saltier, there are some alternatives such as beet juice, cheese brines and sand. However, it can’t be assumed that these are always better for the environment. A study performed by Queen’s University looked at an alternative de-icer that in addition to sodium chloride also contained beet juice. This product was found to be more toxic to zooplankton than the road salt it was supposed to replace. Sand contributes to sediment buildup which also impacts aquatic ecosystems.
Research is currently underway to find a balance between road safety and protecting the environment. In the meantime, there are actions we can take on our own properties to keep us safe from ice and slippery falls with fewer negative impacts on our lakes, and being mindful of your health:
• Clear the snow with a shovel, plow or snowblower as this will help prevent ice from forming
• If you are using salt, more is not better. Use only what is needed. According to SaltSmart.org, a 12-ounce coffee mug of salt is enough for 500 square feet of driveway. Distribute the salt evenly.
• Some salt formulations are not as effective below -10°C.
• If there is salt left over on your driveway, clean it up to keep it out of your lake and use less next time.
• Check your local stores for eco-friendly ice melting products, being sure to do some research on their environmental impacts.
For more information on the Love Your Lake program, visit LoveYourLake.ca. Love Your Lake is a shoreline assessment program developed by the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Watersheds Canada.
Written by Terri-Lee Reid, Freshwater Researcher with the Canadian Wildlife Federation
