Maryland is where Salt Watch started! In 2017, a Clean Water Fellow at the Izaak Walton League of America noticed a huge pile of salt left by a salt truck sitting directly next to a storm drain. That salt was headed right for the Muddy Branch, a small stream that travels through Maryland and feeds into the Potomac River. He contacted local government agencies to try and address the problem and quickly discovered that the world of road salt is a complicated one and that its effects on our waterways are not well known or well-studied. Inspired by the success of the League’s Save Our Streams community science program, Izaak Walton League staff launched Salt Watch in 2018 to mobilize community scientists to monitor chloride (salt) levels in local creeks and streams.
Since that original salt pile, Salt Watch has launched several campaigns in Maryland localities to combat road salt pollution and educate the public about smart salting practices!
Salt Watch Monitoring
Want to learn more about road salt pollution in your local waterways? Check out the Salt Watch Map to see where monitoring is taking place. If you see data gaps in your area, we would love your help in filling them! To get started, go to saltwatch.org to request a Salt Watch kit.
DMV Salt Outreach Workgroup
Salt Watch staff are part of a regional road salt outreach workgroup originally started by WSSC Water that meets quarterly to discuss regional program initiatives and amplify “Smart Salt” messaging across organizations and throughout the region. As a result of these collaborations, workgroup members have been able to share resources and reach additional audiences through their outreach.
Resources from Workgroup Members:
WSSC Water is the local drinking water entity in the Montgomery County, Maryland region and has been monitoring water entering their Potomac and Patuxent River Filtration Plants. Chloride levels in those rivers have increased dramatically over the past 30+ years and there has been increasing concern about road salt, as there is no economically feasible way to remove salt from drinking water.
Maryland Department of the Environment has developed a state-wide road salt applicator training program available for road salt applicators in the public and private sectors.
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) has developed a “Winter Salt Smart” story map.
Click the pinned regions below to learn more about specific regional Salt Watch initiatives taking place in Maryland.
Salt Watch Partners
Salt Watch partner organizations are spreading the word, reporting data, and advocating for reduced use of road salt. Meet our official partners in Maryland.
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.