Hold the Salt
Photo credit: Minnesota Watershed Management Organization
As a Minnesota transplant, it was the lakes and rivers, as well as the snow-filled, frigid winters that first drew me to this state. My family loves all the winter activities: cross-country skiing, ice-skating, sledding…we’ve even tried our hand at ice fishing! As much as I love winter and all the snow, the inevitable question is: What do I DO with all this snow? Winter can seem like one never-ending snow shoveling session, for sure.
Keeping sidewalks and parking lots safe and walkable is a top priority for Minnesotans during winter. But one thing I’ve learned as a Minnesota Water Steward is the toxic effects that road and sidewalk salt have on our lakes and streams. Did you know that 1 tsp of salt permanently contaminates 5 gallons of water? According to Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO), if you “do the math, you’ll find that a single 10-pound bag of salt is enough to permanently pollute 3,000 gallons of water.”
Just like your doctor might put you on a reduced-salt diet, it’s time for us to take that same approach when it comes to de-icing our roads and sidewalks in the winter. Already, local lakes like Crystal Lake in Robbinsdale contain levels of chloride well above those that are safe for aquatic animals. Concentrated levels of salt harm species diversity and reproductive health. In addition to those detrimental impacts on the environment, salt is creeping into our drinking water in Minnesota too. MPCA’s research shows that “78 percent of that salt is either transported to groundwater or remains in the local lakes and wetlands.” Once that salt enters our waterways through storm drains, it’s virtually cost-prohibitive to remove.
Photo Credit: Minnesota Watershed Management Organization
So, what’s an environmentally conscious Minnesotan supposed to do about all this snow and ice? Abby Moore, Training & Community Learning Specialist at MWMO, stresses “that there is no such thing as environmentally friendly ice melting products.” Instead, Abby says that deicers labeled as “eco- friendly “are just false advertising. The best solution is still good old-fashioned shoveling. The more snow that’s removed from the sidewalk, the less there is to melt and turn into ice. Salt isn’t effective at melting ice below 15° F anyway. If you do need to use salt, use it sparingly…aim for 1 salt crystal every 3 inches. That amounts to a coffee cup of salt for 10 sidewalk squares. You can also compromise by shoveling your sidewalk and then using salt on a simple footpath down the middle. On really cold days, using sand or chicken grit can still provide traction when salt just isn’t effective.
Eastside Food Co-op is committed to its triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit. That’s why Eastside’s facilities manager, Alicia Marcellis, has taken the Smart Salting Certification class through the MPCA and works with other Smart Salt-certified contractors for Eastside’s snow removal services. As owners of Eastside, you’re supporting proven environmental practices that uphold its mission: Eastside Food Coop is here for good!
Michelle Spangler
Eastside Food Co-op owner since 2009, Minnesota Water Steward
Photo Credit: Minnesota Watershed Management Organization
What Can I Do to Make a Difference?
The main takeaway here is to use less salt. Shovel first and often. If you must use salt, be smart about when and how you use it. Sweep up the salt afterwards and reuse it. It’s really that simple and our individual actions add up.
Photo Credit: Minnesota Watershed Management Organization