As winter’s cold weather persists, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging Iowans to rethink how they use salt on sidewalks and driveways, as small changes can improve safety, protect water quality, and save money. Salt remains the top choice for many people to address slick conditions, but overuse can damage pavement, harm vegetation, and contaminate waterways. Just one teaspoon of salt can pollute up to five gallons of water to toxic levels for plants and wildlife, and salt often washes into soil and streams during spring melt. Officials recommend a “less is more” approach. Clearing snow quickly with a shovel or snow blower prevents it from being compacted into ice, reducing or eliminating the need for salt. When salt is needed, spreading it in a light scatter pattern helps break the bond between ice and pavement so loosened ice can be removed manually. Temperature also matters, as traditional rock salt becomes much less effective when ambient temperature drops below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. In extreme cold, using sand instead of salt can provide traction and reduce the negative impacts.
