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WISCONSIN — With Wisconsin Salt Awareness Week on January 23rd, officials are warning of the environmental dangers of using too much salt during the winter.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says using more salt than you need can affect lakes, streams, and groundwater. becomes toxic.
Over time, the DNR has measured chloride levels in the state’s rivers, and recent students show sharp increases in those levels. In the early 2000s, there were about 600,000 tonnes of chloride each year, according to officials, but by 2018 that number had surged to nearly 800,000 tonnes a year.
So far, one stream and five lakes in Wisconsin have been designated as being compromised by high salinity, according to the DNR. Salt damage on the road is one cause, but fertilizers and water softeners are also causes.
Too much salt can corrode bridges, roads and other infrastructure, causing about $5 billion in damage each year.
Besides the environment, salt can also affect pets. Road salt can cause paw irritation and other problems if your pet eats it.
DNR provided the following tips to help reduce salt usage.
- Shovel walkways and other areas before the snow turns to ice.
- If you use salt, sprinkle it so that there are spaces between the grains. A 12-ounce coffee mug is enough salt for at least 10 sidewalk squares or 20 feet of driveway, according to DNR.
- When the temperature drops below 15 degrees, salt is ineffective on pavements. Instead, switch to sand for better traction, or switch to a different de-icer.
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