Water protection: winter salt management

CBC News (Jan. 18, 2019): We're all afraid of slipping and falling, especially in winter, so it's not uncommon to see carpets of salt on Canadian sidewalks and roads this time of year.

But what's the effect on the environment?

Our bodies need salt, but there is a difference between the stuff we sprinkle in food and what we put on the roads. They're both sodium chloride, but table salt includes healthy additives like iodine, which deters goiters.

The problem with rock salt (a.k.a. road salt) is that it contains chloride ions, which can have negative effects on ecosystems because once these ions seep into our environment, there's no way to dilute them and they continue to build up.

A Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan (2018): page 13 of the Plan references impacts of salt.

"Build on the ministry’s monitoring and drinking water source protection activities to ensure that environmental impacts from road salt use are minimized. Work with municipalities, conservation authorities, the private sector and other partners to promote best management practices, certification and road salt alternatives."

Waterloo Region Record (Nov. 22, 2018): A large section of sidewalk and the courtyard around Cambridge’s Historic City Hall, as well as the front steps, has been cordoned off, and warning signs tell people to stay out of the area.

City manager of communications Shawn Falcao explains what’s going on, saying the city is participating in the Region of Waterloo’s salting shift program and is attempting to use less salt this winter. Along with the city, various businesses are participating, as are other cities in the region.

Waterloo Region Record (Nov. 22, 2018): For years doctors have been warning patients to reduce their salt intake. Now environmentalists are expressing similar concerns regarding the amount of salt being used on sidewalks, roads, parking lots and driveways.

The chloride found in road salt is seeping into both surface water — like creeks, streams, rivers and melted ice — as well ground water aquifers, from which we draw our drinking water.

570 News The Mike Farwell Show (Nov. 21, 2018): start time (21:30) - Mike Farwell interviews Region staff about winter maintenance and the impacts to our drinking water sources.

Environmental Protection Report (Nov. 13, 2018): Environmental Commissioner of Ontario released her 2018 Environmental Protection Report, Back to Basics, to the Ontario Legislature. Page 86 of the Clean Water section of the report lists salt as a threat.

Environews (Fall 2018): page 3 of the newsletter includes articles on salt.

• is your business winter-ready?
• close areas instead of salting
• book a talk on salt
• use less salt to protect drinking water
• what to use instead of salt

Kitchener Post (Feb. 16, 2018): Road salt diet is giving the environment indigestion says Mike Farwell.

National Post (Jan. 22, 2018): Bringing down bridges, melting cars, poisoning rivers; it's hard to think of something salt isn't ruining.

TVO (Jan. 17, 2018): Road salt is a necessary evil, but Ontario uses far too much of it — and that could spell trouble for the environment.