Safety, Cost, and Environmental Impacts
Safety
Icy conditions can result in crashes and slip and fall injuries. Following physical removal of snow, the use of salt helps to regain bare pavement and safer conditions for driving and walking. States with harsh winters report three times as many emergency visits for falls on ice than states with milder weather. We expect safe roadways and other paved surfaces for daily travel as well as access to their mailbox and deliveries. The fear of slipping, falling, and resulting injuries, along with liability concerns for visitors on your property, often leads to overuse of salt. Salt use does not ensure safety. We all need to do our part to drive and dress appropriately for the conditions and pay attention to where we are walking.
Cost
Economy
Road salt enhances winter safety, allowing businesses to stay open and our economy to keep moving—even in the harshest winters. Salt usage on roadways has reduced crash frequency by nearly 90%. With clear roads, we can continue to drive to work, shop for groceries, and bring our children to school safely. The successful use of salt has also created demand for immediate access to travel on roadways and to businesses and with that, greater demand for salt use.
Infrastructure
Salt causes significant damage to property and infrastructure. Over time, it breaks down concrete surfaces, leading to cracks and deterioration. It also speeds up corrosion of steel reinforcements and promotes rust on metal components. The impact is visible on sidewalks, door frames, railings, bridges, vehicles, and even inside buildings and homes where salt is tracked onto carpets and entryways. These effects not only reduce the lifespan of structures but can also result in costly repairs and maintenance and unsightly appearance.
The repair and replacement costs to buildings, roads, bridges, storm sewer systems, and vehicles is expensive. Applying one ton of salt results in estimated damages and repair costs of $1,700 to $17,000. Approximately 403,600 tons of salt is applied each winter in Minnesota (Visit Annual Survey of State Winter Maintenance Data - Clear Roads to see how much salt is used in your state). As a homeowner, you are responsible for the damage to your property and home from salt both exterior and interior. This can become quite costly. Public agencies repair salt damage that occurs to its infrastructure such as highways, streetlights and poles, and public sidewalks. This also hits your pocketbook as taxpayers ultimately pay for these repairs.
Environment
Salt can pollute water, impair soil, harm plants and wildlife, and even pose health risks to people and pets. These impacts are long-lasting and expensive—affecting our homes, communities, and natural resources. Understanding these consequences is the first step toward smarter, more responsible winter maintenance:
Water
Surface water
Salt runoff enters lakes, rivers, and stormwater ponds. Just one teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water to the national standard for protecting aquatic life from chloride. Water pollution from salt creates denser (heavier) water that sinks to the bottom of lakes and streams and may create layers that disrupt natural seasonal mixing and limit oxygen levels for plants, fish, and amphibians.
Salt runs off our driveways into storm drains that carry the salty water to our lakes, streams or wetlands, or to stormwater treatment ponds. These treatment ponds cannot remove the salt. Too much salt in stormwater treatment ponds can result in the ponds releasing phosphorus, the nutrient that causes excess algae growth in lakes, rather than retaining it as they are designed to do.
Groundwater
Salt infiltrates into groundwater, raising sodium and chloride levels. This can affect drinking water quality and mobilize other contaminants, creating long-term risks for human health.
Health risks
When salt dissolves and runs off with meltwater, it enters lakes, streams, and groundwater. Over time, this raises sodium and chloride levels in drinking water. High sodium can be a concern for people with high blood pressure. Chloride, though not a human health risk, is regulated as a secondary contaminant for taste. Salt levels above 250 mg/L may result in salty tasting water. Salty water can also mobilize metals and other contaminants, creating a cocktail of pollutants that can pose risks to human and environmental health.
Soil and vegetation
Soil
When soil has excessive amounts of sodium it causes expansion of clay which reduces the infiltration of water. This results in soil compaction and poor conditions for plant growth which create conditions where salt-tolerant weeds and invasive species often take over.
Vegetation
Salt spray and runoff damage turf grass, lawns, and roadside plants. Overapplication burns vegetation and can kill trees and shrubs, leading to costly replacements. Salt-tolerant weeds and invasive species often replace native plants.
Wildlife and pets
Wildlife
Salt pollution disrupts aquatic habitats by reducing oxygen levels and stressing fish, amphibians, and other species. Elevated chloride concentrations can be toxic to freshwater organisms, and these changes ripple through the food chain—affecting insects, birds, and predators that depend on healthy aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, salt attracts wildlife to roadsides, increasing the risk of vehicle collisions and harm to both animals and people.
Pets
Salt can also irritate pet paws, causing dryness and cracks. Pets may lick salt from their paws or drink salty meltwater, which can be harmful. Most deicing salts are not pet-friendly, so they should be used sparingly. Boots help protect your dog’s paws if you can get them to wear them. If your dog walks through salt or salt residue, wash their paws when you return home.