DEC says overuse of rock salt bad for environment and infrastructure

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton joined state and local officials to encourage New Yorkers to reduce the overuse of rock salt when possible, and “Don’t Be Salty, New York.”

Although applying rock salt on roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks helps to ensure the safety of those traveling by vehicle or foot, overuse of salt can be costly for consumers, degrade infrastructure, contaminate runoff that enters streams and waterbodies, and impact drinking water.

“It only takes one teaspoon of salt to pollute five gallons of water,” Commissioner Lefton said. “We’re asking all New Yorkers to take common-sense precautions before using too much rock salt on their sidewalks, driveways, and other places around their homes and businesses to help prevent unknowingly harming our environment. ‘Don’t Be Salty’ and help save your money, remain safe, and protect our waterbodies.”

To help protect water quality while maintaining public safety, DEC launched the “Don’t Be Salty, New York” public awareness campaign to help educate property owners, managers, communities, and snow and ice removal professionals about the impacts of rock salt and the various strategies that can be implemented to reduce salt use.

In August 2025, NYSDOT announced a statewide expansion of its road salt management pilot program for the 2025-26 snow and ice season. NYSDOT takes the issue of road salt management very seriously and for more than a decade has been a national leader in the effort to reduce the use of salt while still maintaining a safe and reliable transportation system.

These efforts include but are not limited to enhanced training for snowplow operators, direct liquid applications in place of road salt, continuous evaluation of innovative equipment, and utilization of best management practices for reducing road salt.

As a result, the statewide average application rate for granular salt was reduced to 172 pounds per lane-mile during the 2024-25 snow and ice season, down from the seven-year statewide average application rate of 194 pounds per-lane-mile.

DEC encourages all New Yorkers to use these “Don’t Be Salty, New York” best practices to save money, reduce rock salt pollution, and stay safe:

Use Rock Salt Sparingly

Shovel first, if possible, to clear snow and ice before applying rock salt. The less snow and ice there is to melt, the less rock salt is needed;

Apply rock salt strategically. A 12-ounce cup full of rock salt is enough to treat 250 square feet, a 20-foot single car driveway, or approximately 10 standard sidewalk squares;

Apply rock salt only where it is needed most, such as walkways, driveways, and steps;

Use a spreader to evenly distribute salt. Avoid piling it in one area, as this can lead to more salt runoff.

Monitor Weather Conditions

Rock salt loses effectiveness below 15°F. Sand can be used for traction on ice during a cold snap (and can be swept up in the spring for reusing) or switch to a deicer made for colder temperatures.

If a snow or ice storm is predicted, consider pre-treating surfaces with rock salt to prevent ice from forming.

Consider Using Alternative Products

Consider making your own brine solution at home by combining 3.5 cups of rock salt per gallon of hot tap water and stirring until all salt is dissolved. Let any gravel settle to the bottom. Pour the brine into a regular garden sprayer and spray in a zig-zag pattern over desired area. Save extra brine to use later.

Use products from the GreenNY specifications listed on the DEC website.

Among the many impacts of rock salt overuse:

• Rock salt can run off into surface waters through snow melt and stormwater or leach into groundwater.
• Excessive rock salt in surface water can cause stress to, or kill, fish and other aquatic organisms.
• Rock salt washed off surfaces will accumulate in soils, which can kill vegetation or deplete plants of nutrients. Eventually, non-native salt-tolerant vegetation could move in and disrupt ecosystems.
• Salty roads attract animals like deer and moose (who love licking up the salt), increasing the probability of accidents and roadkill.
• The presence of sodium in drinking water is problematic for individuals with low-salt or limited-salt dietary restrictions. People on a sodium-restricted diet can experience health risks when exposed to elevated levels of sodium in their drinking water.
• Rock salt has corrosive properties that can corrode metals, including lead, copper, iron, and steel, from pipes and other infrastructure.
• These corrosive effects also impact cars, trucks, bridges, and roads resulting in approximately $5 billion dollars in annual repairs in the U.S. alone (USEPA)
• Households using private wells and small unregulated water systems are at the greatest risk of negative impacts from corrosion. Regulated public water systems sample for lead and copper and reduce corrosion if required.