Become a Road Salt Monitor
Help protect our three riversWhy do you monitor road salt?
Chloride is a key element used in traditional road deicing methods across the northern United States through application of sodium chloride or calcium chloride. Although effective as a deicing agent, when road salt enters our waterways it can have negative effects on aquatic organisms. High levels of chloride have the potential to kill fish and other aquatic life instantly (acute toxicity) or to kill or harm aquatic life at lower levels and longer periods of exposure (chronic toxicity).
What do volunteer Road Salt Monitors do?
Volunteers collect data on two water quality parameters: specific conductance and chloride. Specific conductance is measured on-site using a hand-held meter, while water samples are shipped to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene to test for chloride levels. Sampling takes place within 48 hours after events that trigger road salt use. This can include large snowfalls or snowmelts. Milwaukee Riverkeeper Staff will contact volunteers before and/or during these trigger events with instructions on when to visit their assigned station.
Sampling sometimes requires repeated visits for up to five days in order to identify chronic chloride pollution problems. In these occurrences, Milwaukee Riverkeeper Staff may be able to step in to assist volunteers in taking water samples. Volunteers must be comfortable traveling on roadways soon after these large snowfalls and snowmelts.
How do I become a Road Salt Monitor?
Let us know you are interested in road salt monitoring by filling out the form below. We’ll add you to our email list to receive more information about upcoming training sessions and other opportunities to get involved. If you have additional questions, please email our Water Quality Specialist Zac Driscoll or call (414) 287-0207 x4.
When do you monitor road salt?
Monitoring frequency depends upon winter weather conditions. However, volunteers can expect to start monitoring after their training date in January and finish monitoring in late March.