From The EAC: Winter Salt Week 2025
To help raise awareness around salt pollution as well as offer reduction solutions, Winter Salt Week.org has designated January 27-31st Winter Salt Week.
The salt applied to streets and sidewalks ends up in our freshwater. Salt pollution is impacting lakes, streams, and drinking water. When salt melts snow or ice it dissolves into tiny sodium and chloride particles that cannot be broken down biologically or chemically.
It is estimated that 20-30 million tons of road salt are used each winter in the United States. The cost of vehicle corrosion, extra road maintenance, tree damage, and infrastructure damage is estimated to be over $60 billion each year.
What can the average person do? Use less salt! Eco-friendly ice melt products that do not contain chloride or sodium are available. If you use rock salt, less is more! A 12 oz sized coffee mug of rock salt is enough to effectively cover a 20 foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares.
Resources to learn more:
https://www.iwla.org/
https://wintersaltweek.org/
https://wissahickontrails.org/take-action/report-an-issue
Email the Environmental Advisory Council at WhitpainEAC@gmail.com or visit its Website and EAC Upcoming Events