Montgomery County and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Launch 2025 SaltWise Campaign, Encouraging Sustainable Salt Practices Amid Icy Conditions

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 8, 2025

As Montgomery County residents navigate icy conditions following this week's snow, the Montgomery County Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP), Transportation (MCDOT), and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) are urging residents and businesses to moderate salt usage during winter weather events.

The 2025 SaltWise campaign aims to increase awareness of the environmental and water quality impacts caused by excessive salt application during snow and ice events.

"While salt is essential for ensuring safety during winter storms, its overuse can have significant environmental and health consequences," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. "Salt runoff enters storm drains, streams and ultimately the Potomac and Patuxent rivers-key sources of drinking water for Montgomery County. It can also harm plants, damage infrastructure and impact public health. I encourage everyone to reduce salt use and clean up excess to protect our water and environment."

The SaltWise campaign provides simple, effective guidelines to help residents keep their driveways and sidewalks safe while being mindful of salt usage:

Three Steps to Be SaltWise:

1. Shovel early and frequently to prevent ice buildup.
2. Use only 1 ½ cups (12 ounces) of salt for every 10 sidewalk squares or 20-foot driveway.
3. Sweep up excess salt after storms and reuse it.

The joint effort between Montgomery County and WSSC Water underscores the shared commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible winter maintenance practices.

"Salt levels in our drinking water sources - the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers - have significantly increased over the past three decades," said WSSC Water Deputy General Manager of Operations Aklile Tesfaye. "Because there is no economically feasible way to remove salt during filtration, higher levels end up in the drinking water. While our water is safe, increased salt levels in water can be a health concern for people on sodium-restrictive diets. With more snow and ice likely this winter, we encourage everyone to be salt wise as a little goes a long way."

Salt is a key tool for sidewalks, driveways, and roads during winter storms, but its overuse can harm local wildlife and our drinking water," said DEP Director Jon Monger. "By using salt responsibly, we can help protect public safety, safeguard the environment and preserve our water resources."

MCDOT plays a key role in managing snowstorm responses, working to minimize excessive salt use during winter weather.

"We work hard to ensure safety while using salt as judiciously as possible," said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. "Our Storm Operations Center monitors incoming storms and determines if salt use is necessary. We monitor conditions and pavement temperatures and will skip the salt if temperatures are above freezing or if we expect rain to follow the event. We also utilize advanced equipment such as rubber-tipped plow blades for early plowing and salt brine to reduce salt use when these techniques will be effective."

Residents can help by reporting excessive salt usage on roadways. MCDOT encourages residents to call 3-1-1 within the County or 240-777-0311 for assistance with County roads. The Maryland Department of Transportation manages state roads, the County Department of General Services manages County buildings such as public libraries and Montgomery County Public Schools oversees their properties.

For more information on best practices for salt usage on residential and commercial properties, visit MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/salt. For updates on snow plowing schedules, parking and road maintenance, check the Winter Storm Information Portal.

SaltWise campaign videos and storm preparation b-roll are available for media use.

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Release ID: 25-013
Media Contact: Cindy Pena 202-875-1563
Categories: Environment, Snow, Transportation

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