By Caroline Majewski, Publishing Associate: Researcher and Writer at Save the Water\u2122 | October 15, 2023<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Hampshire applies more salt to its roads in the winter than the majority of the country\u201d (Barndollar, 2023, para. 1).<\/p>\n
There are large amounts of road salt used in the northern parts of the United States. As a result, use of road salt is impacting the groundwater. Merrimack, New Hampshire\u2019s water department (Merrimack Village District) depends on groundwater to supply their roughly 9,300 customers. This is almost one billion gallons of water going to the area. It’s the fourth largest watershed<\/a> in New England.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, a water supply well in the District stopped working due to the sodium and chloride growth. These materials built up over the past 30 years with an over one thousand percent<\/a> increase in both. As a result, 46 bodies<\/a> of water in New Hampshire are listed as chloride-impaired under the Clean Water Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n Starting in the White Mountains with minimal road salt usage, the road salt buildup increases as it travels south. Consequently, the salt found in streams, rivers, lakes, and other water supplies within the watershed has increased.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the district made a Sodium and Chloride Reduction Committee<\/a> a few years ago. Their role is to work with other groups to slow impacts and create future solutions. For example, they sent a letter<\/a> to property owners in hopes of helping the town.<\/p>\n The Department of Environmental Services (DES) provided snow disposal guidance and management practices. Another, more costly, solution is updating equipment to better streamline the use of road salt. Altogether, along with spot reducing salt near sensitive ecological areas, these are some ways they are trying to help.<\/p>\n As of September, the DES has applied federal funding to the road salt problem. It will develop a sodium chloride-based repair plan:<\/p>\n Above all, they\u2019re hoping the wells will resume service in the future.<\/p>\n About 24.5 million tons<\/a> of salt is spread on American roads per year. That is to say, about 137 pounds<\/a> of salt per person. The use of salt provides safer driving conditions, but it also brings harm.<\/p>\n Once warmer temperatures arrive, snow and ice melt, washing the road salt away. The salt ends<\/a> up in soil, lakes, streams, and drinking water. Other toxins<\/a> make their way into our water. But there are solutions<\/a> to help reduce them.<\/p>\n Road salt has a variety of adverse effects<\/a>:<\/p>\n There are also effects on people when it comes to drinking water:<\/p>\n Road salt works by lowering the freezing point<\/a> of water. The most used form of road salt is sodium chloride (NaCl). This has large granules. Moreover, it\u2019s effective and cheap.<\/p>\n On the other hand, magnesium chloride (MgCl2), while safer, needs twice the amount to be used for the same effect. This makes the price go up. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) might be safer for the environment with a different freezing point, but the price is high. At almost three times that of NaCl, it\u2019s only used in specific areas.<\/p>\n Michigan, and its bodies of water, is one of the states also highly impacted. Many urban areas in southeast Michigan have exceeded the 150 milligrams per liter<\/a> limit for chronic exposure of road salt. Meanwhile, a survey<\/a> done found chloride hotspots near highways and housing developments. As a result, this affects more populated areas.<\/p>\n Wisconsin is facing the same problems. Since the 1980s, chloride levels have increased by more than a third<\/a> across the Upper Mississippi River basin. Wisconsin has 51 rivers and one lake<\/a> impaired by chloride. In addition, Minnesota\u2019s 50 lakes and streams are chloride impaired. Meanwhile, 75 more have chloride levels near the standard set.<\/p>\n Minnesota and these other states have been working on solutions<\/a> to slow and stop this.<\/p>\n Sand<\/a> is another material that can be used. It adds traction and is more environmentally friendly. On the other hand, it\u2019s harder to use on a mass scale. In addition, beet juice<\/a> is also used. It lowers the freezing point of water like the others. It\u2019s both less corrosive and less harmful to the environment. Cost, again, is the large con. Another is that the sugar in the juice can attract bacteria. A Journal of Environmental Science and Technology study<\/a> showed a beet brine mixture lowered chloride runoff by 45 percent.<\/p>\n Other types of measures, such as porous pavements<\/a>, are being tested to see how helpful they are.<\/p>\nSteps to Reduce Usage of Road Salt<\/h2>\n
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What Problems Are Caused Due to the Use of Road Salt?<\/h2>\n
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Different Kinds of Road Salt<\/h2>\n
Situation in Other U.S. States<\/h2>\n
What Can be Used Instead of Road Salt?<\/h2>\n