‘Iowans drive record nitrate test requests’
Summary statistics from the Nitrate Watch 2025 annual report are shared in reporting from Axios Des Moines. These statistics tell a story of high nitrate concentrations in waterways across Iowa…
Congress Revives a Pollution Threat to the Boundary Waters
On January 21, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed H.J. Res. 140 by a vote of 214–208, marking a significant escalation in efforts to revive copper-sulfide mining and…
Less Salt, Safer Water: Highlights from Winter Salt Week 2026
Winter Salt Week 2026 (January 26-30) just wrapped up, and what a week it was! Originally a local Wisconsin initiative, this movement has evolved into a national awareness campaign, bringing…
It Could Save Your Life: Connecting the Dots between Human and Wildlife Health
By: Michael Reinemer, Editor Understanding zoonotic diseases, which are shared by wildlife and humans, provides life-saving guidance for public health. Five years ago, a woman in Fremont County, Wyoming, not…
‘Winter road salt: How much is too much for Ohio’s environment?’
This news article from cleveland.com discusses how heavy road salt usage in Ohio during winter storms is causing significant environmental damage, with chloride levels in some waterways reaching nearly 14 times…
‘In Iowa, many rivers and lakes improve briefly, then fall back into impairment’
The article from Investigate Midwest reports that while some Iowa rivers and lakes occasionally show short-term improvements in water quality, most remain persistently listed as “impaired” due to pollution from…
‘Road salt used to treat icy surfaces can harm environment, experts say’
This article from 29 News reports an interview with the Izaak Walton League’s own Samantha Puckett who explains that road salt, while crucial for winter safety, poses severe and persistent…
Major Sewage Spill in the Potomac River
A catastrophic sewage spill, described by officials as one of the largest in U.S. history, is currently ongoing into the Potomac River. On January 19, a sanitary sewer overflow collapsed…
‘Help protect our waters by reducing winter salt use’
This article from APG Media of Wisconsin gives a shout out to Winter Salt Week 2026 and discusses how winter road salt poses a growing threat to Wisconsin’s freshwater ecosystems,…
Your kit will include a bottle containing 25 nitrate test strips which you can use to test your water source(s) throughout the year. You’ll also receive postcards explaining how to use your nitrate test strips and how to share your Nitrate Watch results on the Clean Water Hub.
Your kit will include four test strips so you can test your waterway throughout the season. You’ll also receive a chart to help you interpret your results and a postcard with instructions for completing a Salt Watch test and reporting your findings.