The State of Chlorides in New Hampshire Ted Diers, NHDES
Salt use in the US Source: Salt Institute
Why salt matters … Landscaping Toxic for fish Infrastructure Wells
Other issues • Density of runoff water – Effect on phosphorus • Combination effects – Chloride PLUS – acidic PLUS – low DO
Cobbetts Pond Conductivity Trend 500 450 400 Conductivity 350 Actual Upper 95% 300 Predicted Lower 95% 250 200 150 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Year
Conductivity Trends in Cobbetts Pond and Lake Sunapee 500 450 400 350 Actual Upper 95% 300 Conductivity Predicted Lower 95% 250 Actual Upper 95% 200 Predicted Lower 95% 150 100 50 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Year
Salt sources? • Highway - I93 is ~10% of loading • Roads and parking lots • Household winter maintenance • Septic systems and water softeners • Salt storage
The issue is over-application!
How to reduce?
Training and Liability • Training • Certification • Liability protection • Like ski-areas Source: Wisconsin DOT Transportation Bulletin #22
Many solutions, take small bites • Focus on highest contributing watersheds • Understand sources • Identify Potential Low Salt Roads • Reduce all salt sources • Work with towns and NHDOT • Green SnowPro • Keep monitoring!
Discussion Ted Diers 603-271-3289 Ted.diers@des.nh.gov
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