Published on January 05, 2026
Salt is very commonly used for de-icing our roadways, driveways, sidewalks, etc. in northern climates. Basic salt, without other additives, is sodium chloride (NaCl). It dissolves in water to form a brine solution that has a lower freezing temperature than plain water. The sodium and chloride ions (charged particles that together comprise salt) are in solution in the water (melted snow and ice). Chloride levels in northeastern Illinois rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands have been on the rise for decades now. This increase in chloride concentrations in the environment parallels the increase in roads and parking lots that have been built and the subsequent increase in the use of salt applied to those surfaces in the winter.
The only way to reduce the impact of salt on the environment is to reduce the amount of salt we use. The chloride ion tends to stay in solution and is not easily removed from water (think of the cost of desalinization of sea water to make it usable). The sodium ion tends to adhere to sediment and soil particles, which alter the chemistry of the soil. Chloride harms fish, particularly in early development stages like eggs and juveniles. Macroinvertebrates (the bugs that live in our waterways and provide food for fish), freshwater mussels, and amphibians are adversely impacted by salt. Salt is also harmful to birds, pets and plants.
Because there isn’t a salt product on the market that is completely harm-free, the best thing you, as a resident, can do is to be Salt Smart with your application. Follow the steps in the diagram below when clearing driveways and sidewalks. If hiring snow removal contractors, ask if they have been Salt Smart trained and certified. See https://saltsmart.org/ for more information.
Together we can use the right amount of salt to keep roads, driveways and sidewalks safe while also reducing our impact on the environment.