By Danielle Smith, Keystone State News Service
Pictured above: Chesapeake Bay Foundation participated in Winter Salt Week and studied 17 sites last winter. Last January in the Harrisburg area, they found chloride levels as high as 433 milligrams per liter. National research shows chloride levels in waterways have increased nearly 40% in the last 50 years. Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Pennsylvania crews are still clearing roads after the latest winter storm, and experts warn that the heavy use of road salt is harmful to the environment.
PennDOT maintains about 40,000 miles of roadway and more than 25,000 bridges — and the agency spreads nearly 600,000 tons of salt in a typical season.
Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania director of science policy and advocacy for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said Pennsylvania streams may look calm and untouched in winter, but a hidden problem has been building for decades. Road salt from streets and sidewalks washes into waterways and groundwater, damaging freshwater ecosystems and aquatic life.
“Ultimately, that is affecting not only the creatures that live in our streams, like brook trout and hellbenders,” he said, “but it’s also affecting our drinking water sources — whether they be public drinking water sources, well water sources — and even our infrastructure.”
One study found rivers and streams across the nation are getting saltier, including in Pennsylvania. Researchers analyzed five decades of data from 232 U.S. Geological Survey river and stream monitoring sites, and found salt concentrations had increased by 37%.
Campbell said researchers are exploring eco-friendly options that may be less harsh. He stressed that smarter salt use means figuring out the right amount, time, and place to limit harm. Pet-friendlier alternatives such as magnesium chloride may be less damaging to animals, soil, and waterways — although Campbell pointed out they still contain chloride, so they aren’t harmless.
“So there are other alternatives that people are researching, whether it be different types of alcohols and ethanols,” he said. “Beef root juice is another type of pre-application de-icer. It melts the ice specifically, which is the most dangerous part — black ice in particular.”
Campbell said House Bill 664, sponsored by state Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery County, and passed by the House in October, would have PennDOT create a “good housekeeping” guide for storing, managing, and using road salt. While it doesn’t apply to state highways, Campbell said it could influence local governments and private businesses to adopt better salt practices — an important first step toward a statewide strategy for cleaner waterways.
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