DEC encourages New Yorkers to minimize rock salt use to reduce pollution of waterways
To help protect water quality while maintaining public safety, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) launched the “Don’t Be Salty, New York” public awareness campaign to help educate property owners, managers, communities and snow and ice removal professionals about the impact of rock salt and the various strategies that can be implemented to reduce salt use. Although applying rock salt on roadways, parking lots and sidewalks helps to ensure the safety of those traveling by vehicle or foot, overuse of salt can be costly for consumers, degrade infrastructure, contaminate runoff that enters streams and waterbodies and impact drinking water.
“It only takes one teaspoon of salt to pollute five gallons of water,” said DEC commissioner Amanda Lefton. “We’re asking all New Yorkers to take common-sense precautions before using too much rock salt on their sidewalks, driveways and other places around their homes and businesses to help prevent unknowingly harming our environment. ‘Don’t Be Salty’ and help save your money, remain safe and protect our waterbodies.”
Consistent with a recommendation in the 2023 Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force report, DEC conducted a public survey in 2024 to better understand perceptions surrounding rock salt usage and make appropriate recommendations for reduction strategies to be applied throughout New York. Working with ADK Action’s “Clean Water Safe Roads” campaign, DEC developed the state’s multimedia campaign to expand beyond Adirondack communities and reach all New Yorkers.
DEC encourages all New Yorkers to use these “Don’t Be Salty, New York” best practices to save money, reduce rock salt pollution, and stay safe:
Use rock salt sparingly
Shovel first, if possible, to clear snow and ice before applying rock salt. The less snow and ice there is to melt, the less rock salt is needed.
Apply rock salt strategically. A 12-ounce cup full of rock salt is enough to treat 250 square feet, a 20-foot single car driveway, or approximately 10 standard sidewalk squares.
Apply rock salt only where it is needed most, such as walkways, driveways and steps.
Use a spreader to evenly distribute salt. Avoid piling it in one area, as this can lead to more salt runoff.
Monitor weather conditions
Rock salt loses effectiveness below 15°F. Sand can be used for traction on ice during a cold snap (and can be swept up in the spring for reusing) or switch to a deicer made for colder temperatures.
If a snow or ice storm is predicted, consider pre-treating surfaces with rock salt to prevent ice from forming.
Consider using alternative products
Consider making your own brine solution at home by combining 3.5 cups of rock salt per gallon of hot tap water and stirring until all salt is dissolved. Let any gravel settle to the bottom. Pour the brine into a regular garden sprayer and spray in a zig-zag pattern over desired area. Save extra brine to use later.
Use products from the GreenNY specifications listed on the DEC website.
Salting roads, polluting drinking water
Adirondack Watershed Institute scientists for years have raised alarms about the wide-reaching harms of road salt pollution on Adirondack waters. The institute’s researchers connected state highway runoff to residential well contamination, documented salt’s role in changes to aquatic ecosystems and outlined the economic costs of corrosion damage to roads, bridges and vehicles.
All the while, the water at Paul Smith’s College, the institute’s longtime home, has shown signs of salt pollution.
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How much salt?
A nugget gleaned from the state’s recently released Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force report is the role that rock salt plays in the state economy.
“New York State ranks third in rock salt production, providing approximately 16% (~7.7 million tons) of the total national output,” the report states. “Today, rock salt is New York State’s third leading valued mineral product, behind crushed stone and cement respectively, contributing approximately $560 million to the state’s economy annually.”
Which is to say that for every green lobbyist in Albany on the salt issue, there is likely to be someone on the other side of the ball.