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jaOfwiw t1_j63f1nw wrote

Little late to the party... We use thousands of tons of salt mines from enormous reserves 2000' below the great lakes. Dumpling this locally on all roadways. What effect does this have as it eventually makes its way to all our fresh water lakes? I often wonder, but guess that the elevation means it ultimately drains to the oceans and is replaced by fresh spring waters. Is there any concern here?

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iisd_ela OP t1_j653hn0 wrote

Mike: There is considerable concern about the potential effect of road salts on freshwaters and this is an active area of research. There is substantial evidence that salt levels are increasing in lakes and waterways near roads and that increases in salt concentrations are affecting biota, especially small invertebrates that are critical components of all aquatic food webs. The greatest problems often arise in the spring following snowmelt when salts accumulated over the winter are washed into streams and lakes.

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jaOfwiw t1_j6729vp wrote

Thanks much for the response, I suppose we've been doing it for the better part of 40-50 years, but the salt that has been buried deep below doesn't return back. Guess time will tell

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