Glyphosate has been linked to probable carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, kidney and liver damage, reproductive health problems and neurological effects.  In addition to the threat on the health of humans, it poses a greater threat to aquatic life and river ecosystems. The continuous use of glyphosate also mean groundwater quality will be at risk and the damage could be irreversible.

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More and more environmental groups are making noise about the devastating impact winter salting has on the environment which is raising awareness and forcing lawmakers to look at alternative solutions.  In Canada alone, the country applies five million tonnes (over 110 billion pounds) of salt during an average winter.  This salt contaminates ground and freshwater, degrades habitat, alters aquatic ecosystems and causes corrodes critical infrastructure such as water pipes.

The massive increase to the salt content of soil located next to roads affects roadside vegetation; often killing the vegetation and impeding its ability to grow back.  Unfortunately, many invasive plants are well-adapted to high levels of salt, leading to a greater potential for invasive species to take over and spread along roadside communities. Researchers in Massachusetts found that road salt use directly aided the spread of invasive phragmites along the Kampoosa Bog in Stockbridge.

Many wild animals such as moose, deer, cattle, woodchucks, squirrels and mountain goats require essential elements such as sodium in the springtime for bone, muscle and other growth.  Salt deposits exacerbate roadside collisions as the wild salt-seekers are drawn from miles away to lick the mass salt deposits left near highways and roads during the spring.

People living in snowy climates are well away of the devastating effects salt has on their vehicles, perhaps not on what can occur within their own bodies.  Excess salt can contaminate ground and freshwater; water that we drink and use to prepare food.  Not all the salt can be filtered out of the water and can pose health risks to those who require sodium-reduced diets or those with hypertension.

High levels of chloride in water can corrode plumbing and leach harmful metals into drinking water, posing health risks, particularly for people using well water. Corroded water pipes lead to breaks which can cause disruption in service and even flooding.  Not to mention that the elevated chloride levels can also corrode appliances using water such as dishwashers and washing machines.

Sustainable alternatives are being implemented in both Canada and the United States.  Many Canadian municipalities are using a more environmentally friendly de-icing agents such as a mixture of beet juice and salt.  Beet juice works in the same was as road salt, but the beet juice stays on the road longer, so it is not only effective, but requires fewer applications.  In Wisconsin, cheese brine; an industrial byproduct from the dairy industry that is normally dumped as waste, is being combined with salt to create a unique deicer.

More and more people are experimenting with sustainable salt solutions and hopefully in the near future less salt will be used.

The city is concerned with the damaging effects of road salt.  It would ultimately get washed into storm drains which flow to a sewer treatment plant.  Will the salt corrode old metro-area pipes? It affects the roads, the steel in the bridges and the concrete and it affects your car.  And, the salt that stays on the roads will eventually get washed into the environment.

Minnesota is beginning to see some of the environmental effects of road salt use. In the Twin Cities metro area, the level of salt (chloride) in 39 surface waters now exceeds water quality standards.  An additional 38 surface waters are almost above the standard and many others remain untested.  Data shows that salt concentrations are continuing to increase in both surface waters and groundwater across the state.

The fact is that it only takes one teaspoon of road salt to permanently pollute 5 gallons of water. Once in the water, there is no way to remove the chloride. At high concentrations, chloride can harm fish, aquatic plant life, groundwater and drinking water supplies.

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The Wisconsin DNR had issued a drinking water advisory in July due to a gasoline leak in the area.  A 10 inch fuel pipeline ruptured and released an estimated 54,600 gallons of gasoline which has contaminated 23 private wells.  A month after the rupture water samples found 216 parts per billion of benzene, more than 43 times the federal safe drinking water standard, still in the water and residents are relying on bottled water.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that human activities pollute groundwater.  Improperly built and/or maintained septic systems and toxic chemicals from underground storage tanks can contaminate groundwater.  So can fertilizers, pesticides, road salt and motor oil, all of these products may seep into the aquifers.  However, sometimes the quality and safety of groundwater is affected by substances that occur naturally in the environment.

Microorganisms

Bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other microorganisms are sometimes found in groundwater.  Coliform bacteria originate as organisms in soil or vegetation and in intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals.  This bacterial pollution includes runoff from woodlands, pastures, septic tanks, animals, and water fowl.

Some bacteria are completely harmless, but others can cause illnesses.  Parasites can cause illnesses such as Guinea worm or cryptosporidiosis.

Radionuclides

Radon is a natural occurring gas that emits ionizing radiation.  It seeps into homes through basement floors and can be present in granite countertops.

Uranium is another natural element that can be found within rock, soil, and water.  It is the 51^st element in order of abundance in the Earth’s crust and the highest-numbered element found in significant quantities on Earth.

Radon in water in itself isn’t serious, but it contributes to airborne radon levels in a home and can increase your family’s risk of lung cancer.  Most ingested uranium is eliminated from the body, but some is absorbed and carried through the bloodstream.  Elevated levels of uranium from drinking water can the kidneys over time.

Heavy Metals

Arsenic is an odorless and tasteless semi-metallic element that occurs naturally in rock, soil, and water.  It is also found in food and air.

Another natural occurring heavy metal is chromium.  It is the 24^th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and is found in soil, sea water, rivers and lakes.

Exposure to high-levels of arsenic poses potential serious health risks, it is known as a cancer-causing agent and can is associated with the development of diabetes.  Chromium – 3 is a nutritionally essential element in humans, but chromium – 6 is likely to be cancer-causing and at least 74 million Americans in 42 states drink chromium-polluted water.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking water.  It is a requirement for all community water systems to prepare and deliver an annual confidence report (water quality report) to customer by July 1^st of each year.  Public water systems are required to treat and test drinking water according to federal quality standards, but private well owners are responsible to ensure that their own drinking water is safe.