DEC encourages New Yorkers to minimize rock salt use to reduce pollution of waterways <\/p>\n
To help protect water quality while maintaining public safety, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) launched the \u201cDon\u2019t Be\u00a0Salty, New York\u201d public awareness campaign to help educate property owners, managers, communities and snow and ice removal professionals about the impact of rock\u00a0salt\u00a0and the various strategies that can be implemented to reduce\u00a0salt\u00a0use. Although applying rock\u00a0salt\u00a0on roadways, parking lots and sidewalks helps to ensure the safety of those traveling by vehicle or foot, overuse of\u00a0salt\u00a0can be costly for consumers, degrade infrastructure, contaminate runoff that enters streams and waterbodies and impact drinking water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt only takes one teaspoon of\u00a0salt\u00a0to pollute five gallons of water,\u201d\u00a0said DEC commissioner Amanda Lefton. \u201cWe\u2019re asking all New Yorkers to take common-sense precautions before using too much rock\u00a0salt\u00a0on their sidewalks, driveways and other places around their homes and businesses to help prevent unknowingly harming our environment. \u2018Don\u2019t Be\u00a0Salty\u2019 and help save your money, remain safe and protect our waterbodies.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Consistent with a recommendation in the 2023 Adirondack Road\u00a0Salt\u00a0Reduction Task Force report, DEC conducted a public survey in 2024 to better understand perceptions surrounding rock\u00a0salt\u00a0usage and make appropriate recommendations for reduction strategies to be applied throughout New York. Working with ADK Action\u2019s\u00a0\u201cClean Water Safe Roads\u201d<\/a>\u00a0campaign, DEC developed the state\u2019s multimedia campaign to expand beyond Adirondack communities and reach all New Yorkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n DEC encourages all New Yorkers to use these \u201cDon\u2019t Be\u00a0Salty, New York\u201d best practices to save money, reduce rock\u00a0salt\u00a0pollution, and stay safe:<\/p>\n Use rock\u00a0salt\u00a0sparingly<\/p>\n Shovel first, if possible, to clear snow and ice before applying rock\u00a0salt. The less snow and ice there is to melt, the less rock\u00a0salt\u00a0is needed.<\/p>\n Apply rock\u00a0salt\u00a0strategically. A 12-ounce cup full of rock\u00a0salt\u00a0is enough to treat 250 square feet, a 20-foot single car driveway, or approximately 10 standard sidewalk squares.<\/p>\n Apply rock\u00a0salt\u00a0only where it is needed most, such as walkways, driveways and steps.<\/p>\n Use a spreader to evenly distribute\u00a0salt. Avoid piling it in one area, as this can lead to more\u00a0salt\u00a0runoff.<\/p>\n Monitor weather conditions<\/p>\n Rock\u00a0salt\u00a0loses effectiveness below 15\u00b0F. 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.<\/p>\n If a snow or ice storm is predicted, consider pre-treating surfaces with rock\u00a0salt\u00a0to prevent ice from forming.<\/p>\n Consider using alternative products<\/p>\n Consider making your own brine solution at home by combining 3.5 cups of rock\u00a0salt\u00a0per gallon of hot tap water and stirring until all\u00a0salt\u00a0is 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.<\/p>\n Use products from the GreenNY specifications listed on the\u00a0DEC website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Salting roads, polluting drinking water<\/p>\n Adirondack Watershed Institute scientists for years have raised alarms about the wide-reaching\u00a0harms of road salt pollution on Adirondack waters.<\/a>\u00a0The institute\u2019s researchers connected state highway runoff to residential well contamination, documented salt\u2019s role in changes to aquatic ecosystems and outlined the economic costs of corrosion damage to roads, bridges and vehicles.<\/p>\n All the while, the water at Paul Smith\u2019s College, the institute\u2019s longtime home, has shown signs of salt pollution.\u00a0<\/p>\n Click the link to read the full story.<\/a><\/p>\n How much salt?<\/p>\n