With winter weather upon us, keeping our sidewalks and driveways free of ice is an important safety precaution. However, use of sodium chloride (rock salt), the most common deicer and other chloride salts can cause serious problems for our environment. Salt can raise sodium levels in drinking water, harm fish, pets, plants and other wildlife, and corrode vehicles, roads, bridges,
and parking lots. Arlington, Alexandria, and other local jurisdictions participate in Virginia’s salt management strategy to reduce overall use of salt through applying brine, which has much less salt than rock salt, and other methods.
There are a number of actions homeowners can take to keep their walkways and driveways safe while protecting their plants, reducing harmful runoff, and protecting pets:
Shovel, scrape, and sweep snow early and often to prevent ice buildup;
Use calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) instead of salt—it is just as effective but with fewer adverse impacts—or use sand, non-clumping kitty litter, or sawdust for traction;
Use salt, if at all, sparingly—12 ounces is enough to treat 1,000 square feet or about the 20 feet of driveway—and sweep up after ice is melted to reuse later and prevent runoff into rivers and streams.
Resources
Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Beyond Road Salt: Winter Deicing Options https://mgnv.org/mg-in-the-garden/beyond-road-salt-winter-de-icing-options/
Arlington County, Winter Salt Smart: This Winter Use Less Salt https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Sustainability-and-Environment/Streams/Prevent-Pollution/This-Winter-Use-Less-Salt
Minnesota Stormwater Manual, How salt works and overview of deicing chemicals https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/How_salt_works_and_overview_of_deicing_chemicals
University of Minnesota Extension, The effect of deicing salts on landscapes https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/effects-deicing-salts-landscapes
