ST. LOUIS – De-icing salts applied to roads or sidewalks that improve winter conditions for civilians can harm local area ecosystems and aquatic life.

These types of salts help lower the freezing point of water on pavement, which prevents the formation of ice. Once temperatures rise, the salt and water mixture will begin to flow into storm drains, followed by local streams and groundwater supplies.

Excessive levels of chloriden are used as a principal ingrediant within deicing salts and impair the ability of plants to successfully absorb water and nutrients.

Aquatic life, including fish and plants, are harmed and killed by these dangerous levels of chloride that are deposited by the runoff of deicers.


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Metropolitan Sewer District says that they, along with St. Louis County and 59 other municipalities within the St. Louis area, partner together on many water quality initiatives.

St. Louis County and municipalities have been tracking the amount of salt used through the winter periods since 2008. Investments and improvements have been made to use these products in a much more efficient manner.

While there’s no perfect solution for an alternative, any option is much less damaging than 100% rock salt. For example:

Using Salt Effectively—Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District

Shovel (or use a snow blower) before you use any product; never put a deicing product on top of snow.

Adopt the “Just Enough” principle, putting down just enough product to keep high traffic areas clear of ice.

Once a storm has passed, sweep up any undissolved product for reuse.

Consider switching to a non-chloride deicer.

Support changes by your municipality to minimize salt usage.

Inform a neighbor about the impact chloride has on our streams and rivers.