Is road salt seeping into our drinking water?

In 10 seconds: The use of de-icing salts is pushing salt levels in our drinking water above and beyond recommended thresholds. Recent evidence suggests that this is a widespread problem that needs urgent attention.

What are the findings? A recent review has shown that the use of de-icing salts is having a worrying impact on the level of salt in freshwater ecosystems in the US. This is because as snow and ice melt on the roads, the salt mixes with the water and washes into the soil, lakes, streams. Run-off from the roads has also been shown to contaminate drinking water reservoirs and wells. This increase in salt is negatively impacting wildlife and also causing salt levels in our drinking water to rise above and beyond recommended levels which could have detrimental effects on human health.