Winter maintenance and salting tips

While road and sidewalk salt makes life easier during the winter, too much causes serious problems for the river. Just 1 teaspoon of salt is enough chloride to permanently pollute 5 gallons of river, lake or creek water.

Visit these sites for information to reduce your environmental impact while making your sidewalks and driveways safer to travel. And sign up to be a River Guardian to help reduce the amount of salt we use statewide.

Quick tips for reducing chloride pollution:

• Shovel early and often to keep ice from forming.
• Sweep up excess salt and leftover salt after it has melted ice and before it enters a storm drain.
• Only apply salt when it's above 15 degrees since most salts stop working in the bitter cold.
• Don't overapply: One coffee mug-full is enough for 10 sidewalk squares or a 20' driveway. One grain melts a 3" circle of ice.
• Consider alternatives to salt. Use sand for traction. 
• When driving, slow down to protect public safety and make the most of salt on our roads. 

More resources:

• Learn more about the issue from MPR and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Videos from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization: Improved Winter Maintenance: Good Choices for Clean Water and  Winter Maintenance for Small Sites
• Snow removal: Do it better, cheaper, and pollution-free, tips from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• For residents and small businesses: An online, self-paced mini-course from the City of Minneapolis
• For professionals: Training programs from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency