Winter oversalting is harmful to people, pets, water, structures, vehicles & your driveway

MONROE COUNTY — Every winter, people everywhere apply too much salt to their icy driveways and sidewalks. Not only does this waste money, but it’s harmful to water, wildlife, pets, roads, cars and structures.

“Don’t oversalt; it is a waste,” said David Leach, managing director of the Monroe County Road Commission.

“It is important to note that this trend is not new, nor is it unique to Monroe, but rather has been a nationwide concern for a number of years,” said Jackson Cenusa, conservation specialist with the Monroe Conservation District.

Here’s a guide to properly and safely salting outdoor surfaces this winter from Leach, Cenusa, the City of Monroe and other sources.

How much salt do I need?

“A 12-ounce mug holds enough salt to treat a 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares. Apply salt in appropriate amounts so there is space between the grains,” said the MI Water Stewardship Program, a partnership of organizations that provide educational assistance to Michigan residents to identify and reduce contamination risks to water and other natural resources. 

“A 50-pound bag of salt will treat approximately 1,600 square feet or a 10-foot wide by 160-foot long hard-surfaced driveway,” Leach said.

Tip for not oversalting: Use a drop spreader

“When salt is used on the roadways, Monroe County Road Commission trucks have spreaders that are calibrated, so a calculated amount of salt is placed on the road surface. Additionally, MCRC equipment has road temperature sensors that use infrared measuring to properly deploy anti-icing and de-icing substances,” Leach said. “Homeowners who do not have access to this type of technology may choose to pour ice melt or salt into a broadcast or drop spreader the same as they would with a fertilizer or grass seed product. Using a spreader will help to decrease the chances of oversalting.”