City of Marshfield Implementing New Salting Practices

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

The salt we apply to roads and sidewalks ends up in our freshwater.

Salt prematurely ages roads and bridges and degrades freshwater lakes and streams. Salt can be an effective deicer, but more isn’t always better. The Street Division staff attended the Salt Wise salt reduction training program in 2022 and is working this winter to implement the following innovative salting practices: calibrating equipment, operator training, and the incorporation of salt brine to reduce the over-application of salt.

Like Marshfield, dozens of Wisconsin municipalities strive to improve winter maintenance programs and slow the salting of our lakes, streams, and drinking water. Many citizens, however, need to be made aware of the issue.

For this reason, the Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership, a coalition of organizations across the state working together to reduce salt pollution in our lakes, streams, and drinking water, is hosting “Wisconsin Salt Awareness Week” from Monday, January 23 to Friday, January 27, 2023.

Wisconsin Salt Awareness Week aims to educate citizens on the issue of salt pollution: how salt impacts freshwater ecosystems, the role of water softening, ideas for teaching children about salt pollution, and other ways to get involved.

Speakers will stream live on YouTube from  12:30 - 1 PM Monday through Friday to share their knowledge and field questions. Speakers include Sujay Kaushal (University of Maryland), Charlie Paradis (University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee), Allison Couture (UW Health), Shannon Haydin (Wisconsin DNR), and Allison Madison (WI Salt Wise).

To view the discussion, check out the WI Salt Wise YouTube channel on Monday, January 23, or register at www.wisaltwise.com.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.