To combat chloride pollution in the watershed, South Washington Watershed District will provide free grit this winter. Chicken grit or grit, is a chloride free, non-chemical alternative to salt for deicing roads, sidewalks, and driveways during the winter.
How does grit work?
Grit works physically to provide traction on top of ice, unlike deicers which rely on a chemical reaction to melt ice. It can also be used throughout the winter, unlike salts that chemically do not work once the ground has reached 15°F, no matter how much salt is applied.
Apply grit like how you would apply salt. Sweep up excess grit and spread it around in high traffic areas like sidewalks and driveways. Grit doesn’t disappear, so it can be reused and moved as needed.
Why is chloride a problem?
In high amounts, chloride can be toxic to fish, amphibians, and aquatic bugs. Even at low levels, too much chloride can negatively impact species diversity and productivity.
Chloride can also affect pets. When pets consume salt, by licking salt off their paws, or drinking salty snow melt or runoff, it can make them sick. It can also cause irritation to paw pads.
Wildlife can also be impacted by chloride. Songbirds, like house sparrows and finches, can die when they ingest salt.
When road slush accumulates on the roads, salty splashes can kill plants and trees along the roadside. Many plants can take up salty runoff through their roots, harmful to the plants. Aquatic plants are also heavily impacted, when chloride enters streams, lakes, and wetlands.
Soil can lose its ability to retain water and store nutrients when polluted with salt. This makes soil more prone to erosion and sediment runoff- which is already harmful to water quality.
Chloride is also corrosive to road surfaces (hence why there are only two seasons in Minnesota: Winter and construction). It damages bridges and reinforcing rods, increasing maintenance and repair costs.
What does chloride pollution mean for me?
Chemical deicing products have polluted our lakes, streams, and wetlands with chloride; and once chloride gets into water, it’s there for good and will build up year after year. It only takes one teaspoon of salt to permanently pollute five gallons of water, and in Minnesota, we spread around 445,000 tons of it to our roads each year. To put it into perspective, that’s the equivalent weight of 1,017 jumbo jets, 67,283 African Bush Elephants, or 651,124,531 basketballs.
Chloride also pollutes groundwater, impacting not only the taste but the healthfulness of our drinking water. Around 75% of Minnesotans rely on groundwater for drinking water.
Free grit is located throughout the District and will be available as long as supplies last.
Where can I pick up grit?
Free grit is located throughout the District and are currently available as long as supplies last. A list of participating cities is below. Don’t see your city? Contact your city public works department and let them know!
- City of Newport Public Works – 1100 Bailey Rd, Newport, MN 55055
- St. Paul Park Street Department – 649 5th St, St. Paul Park, MN 55071
- Cottage Grove Public Works – 8635 W Point Douglas Rd S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
- Woodbury Public Works – 2300 Tower Dr, Woodbury, MN 55125
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency created the Minnesota’s Chloride Conditions map to show the connection between road density and chloride levels in water. Analysis completed by the MPCA indicates that watersheds with 18% or greater road density are critical areas for implementation efforts for reducing chloride from road salts should be focused.