Winter is officially here, and with it comes a reminder from the City of Prior Lake that stormwater management isn’t just a warm-weather issue. Snow and ice also impact stormwater quality, and improper salt use can send excess chloride into local lakes and groundwater. As part of its Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP), the City offers tips to help residents protect water resources throughout the frigid months.

• 15°F is too cold for salt.
  • Most de-icing salts stop working at this temperature, so the city recommends using sand for traction instead as sand doesn’t melt ice.
• Use salt sparingly.
  • More salt doesn't mean more melting. One pound of salt is approximately a 12 ounce coffee mug. Consider purchasing a handheld spreader to help you apply a consistent amount. 
• Shovel.
  • Shovel early and often. The more snow and ice you remove manually, the less salt you will have to use and the more effective it will be.
• Sweep up extra salt. 
  •  If salt or sand is visible on dry pavement, it is no longer doing anything and will be washed away into the stormwater system and eventually our lakes and groundwater. Use the excess salt or sand somewhere else or dispose of it accordingly. 
• Hire a certified Smart Salting contractor.
  •  Participating organizations have been able to reduce their salt use by 30 to 70%, and the training has been shown to prevent chloride contamination in bodies of water.

Together, these small steps can make a big difference in protecting water quality all winter long.