UWSP Hosts Sidewalk and Road Salt Reduction Education Event
Written by: Maddy Mauthe
The Office of Sustainability, SGA, and the American Water Resource Association (AWRA) hosted an event on October 11 to inform students about the impacts to Wisconsin freshwater and drinking water from sidewalk and roadside salt.
The sustainability and development coordinator from Saltwise, Allison Madison, came to campus and presented at this event.
Madison explained two different processes that lead to salt being in freshwater and drinking water after it is dispersed on the roads or sidewalks.
The process of contamination in freshwater includes salt melting the snow, the salty liquid heading to sewer grates, then down the storm sewer, and finally, directly to a stream.
The process of salt being in groundwater includes salt melting the snow, the salty liquid infiltrating the soil, and as a result, making its way down into the groundwater.
Madison said the first species that are affected in the contamination of freshwater is zooplankton. The reduction of zooplankton would disrupt Wisconsin freshwater ecosystems.
“One teaspoon of salt pollutes five gallons of water,” and “a 12-ounce coffee cup is enough for 10 sidewalk squares,” said Madison.
Madison described better practices such as shoveling more often, calibrating trucks to lay less salt down, and an anti-icing method with the use of brine.
Madison said the city of Stevens Point has taken initiatives to reduce the amount of salt being dispersed in the winter. She wanted to spread the message to reduce the roughly 400,000 tons of salt being dispersed per year (on state highways alone) to more college students and community members in order to implement better practices.
A UWSP student, Abby Davidson, said, “it is important to reduce the use of salt. I feel like it is important to spread the word, and we can come up with a better option, especially if it is affecting our environment and animals surrounding the area.”
Maddy Mauthe
News Reporter
