Environmental Science
How Road Salting Affects Surrounding Vegetation and Groundwater
Quick fact
Road salt can persist in groundwater for decades, and in some watersheds, sodium levels have risen so high that they exceed recommended limits for drinking water, while roadside soil can become too salty for most plants to survive.
Why this is interesting
Every winter, millions of tons of salt are spread on roads to melt ice—but where does it all go? The answer affects the trees and groundwater near highways in ways you might not expect.