In Wisconsin and much of the United States we are seeing increasing salt levels in our lakes, streams and drinking water. These increased levels threaten our fisheries, tourism, economy, quality of life, and the health of our waters.
You can keep sidewalks and driveways safe this winter while protecting our waters by following these simple steps:
1. Shovel: Clear walkways and other areas before the snow turns to ice. The more snow you remove manually, the less salt you will have to use and the more effective it will be.
2. Scatter: If you use salt, scatter it so that there is space between the grains. Believe it or not, a coffee mug of salt is enough to treat an entire 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares.
3. Switch: When pavement temperatures drop below 15 degrees, salt won’t work. Switch to sand for traction or a different ice melter that works at lower temperatures.
4. Select a Certified Contractor: Check to see if your contractor is already certified through the Winter Salt Certification Program. If not, encourage them to become certified and to follow locally developed application rates.
5. Love the Lines: Stripes on roads before a storm are anti-icing. They show that your professional maintenance crew is concerned about safety and is saving money, time and protecting our environment!
6. Be Salt Wise All Year: Water softener salt ends up in local freshwater bodies. If your household softener uses more than 1 bag of salt per month, have a professional tune it up or replace it with a high-efficiency model.