This article first appeared in South Jersey Climate News, a content-sharing partner of NJ Spotlight News.
The snow and ice in New Jersey is finally melting, but the impacts of de-icing road salt will remain into the Spring, experts say.
Road salt applied during storms eventually washes into groundwater and storm drains, ending up in local waterways. And this causes chloride levels in water to spike above safe levels.
“Water quality standards state that chloride levels in surface waters should never exceed 860 parts per million, above which the salinity can become toxic to some sensitive freshwater species,” said Erin Stretz, Assistant Director of Science at The Watershed Institute. “I anticipate measurements above 1,000 parts per million in the coming days.”
Water treatment plants are unable to remove all salt, which means that it comes out of our taps. Sometimes the public can taste this in their drinking water, which may be more salty.
Elevated chloride levels carry a significant risk for fish, amphibians, and other wildlife.
Small streams along busy highways are especially vulnerable. In areas like the Pinelands, an ecosystem that houses several species of endangered animals, excessive salt chloride levels can kill some wildlife.
“Because elevated salt levels coincide with the spring-early summer breeding season for amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and fish, the saltier stream water can inhibit reproduction, growth, and overall survival rates,” Stretz said. “Species that rely on vernal pools are especially vulnerable to road salt because concentrations in smaller pools can accelerate rapidly, leading to instant mortality.”
While pedestrians and drivers need road salt for safety, experts say we are using too much of it.
The average chloride levels in New Jersey surface freshwaters have tripled since 1997, but changing how salting procedures and the type of de-icing solutions used can make a difference.
At home, lighter salt application, as well as shoveling more often and early into snowfall to avoid compacting, are solutions that everyday residents can utilize to reduce their personal salt use.
Municipal governments and institutions can also look for alternatives like brine, which is a mix of water and a lower concentration of salt.
“Switch to brine over rock salt,” said Stretz. “It sticks to the pavement better and requires about 30% to 50% less salt. Train staff on smarter salting practices to make sure everyone is on board.”
In addition, different surfaces, such as porous pavement, can also help offset the amount of salt needed to safely walk or drive, as the pavement will absorb a lot of snow, reduce ice levels, and reduce runoff, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Residents of New Jersey can also participate in NJ Salt Watch, a community science program that provides testing kits to anyone who registers, and participants can measure chloride levels in any freshwater body they wish. The results are uploaded to an online database to visually depict salt levels across the state.
Reducing salt runoff doesn’t mean that road salt usage has to completely stop. Understanding the impact of road salt usage and making small changes to simple habits can yield positive results within communities.
