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Dinwiddie. Follow us on Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And that's just today. Most state policies regarding salt and sand storage are influenced by a concern for surface water and ground water contamination by salt. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. It broke 1 million tons in 1954, 10 million in 1985, and now averages more than 24 million tons a year . For example, sharing real-time information about road conditions can help road maintenance crews know how much salt to use, reducing oversalting. A 10% salt solution will lower waters freezing point from 32 F (0 C) to 20 F (6 C). Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Avoid: Minnesota. Road Salt Works. But It's Also Bad for the Environment. This overreliance on road salt has severe environmental consequences. CalTrans uses sand, not nearly as effective as salt for safety, but most of the state rarely gets snow or ice. One method involves treating roads before storms with a salt brine solution, which can lead to a 75 percent reduction in the amount of salt used while keeping roads just as safe, according to the Cary Institute. In addition, road salt can also infiltrate nearby surface and ground waters and can contaminate drinking water reservoirs and wells. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. Still, little has been done to address the environmental impact of road salt because it is cheap and effective, said Victoria Kelly, the environmental programming manager at the Cary Institute. These salt additives lower the freezing point of water, slowing down the formation of ice; they also aid in traction, and make the solution stickier so less salt gets splashed off the roads and wasted. Roadway deicing in the United States - American Geosciences Institute Motorists may be more familiar with some other chemical trait of road salt: its corrosiveness.