Smart Salting: Protect Your Property, Your Wallet, and Our Waterways

As winter approaches, Prince William County encourages residents and businesses to practice smart salting to keep sidewalks and driveways safe without harming the environment or wasting money. A few simple steps can make a big difference for your property, your health, and local waterways.

For Residents

When it comes to melting ice, more salt isn’t better. Applying too much winter salt can actually make it less effective. Once the snow melts, excess salt simply washes away, wasting money and polluting our streams and rivers. A 12 oz coffee mug filled with winter salt is enough for 500 sq ft of driveway or approximately 10 sidewalk squares.

Smart tips for residents:

• Shovel first, then salt. Removing snow and slush before applying winter salt reduces the amount you need.
• Let the sun help. On warmer days, sunlight can help melt snow naturally, reducing the need for salt.
• Sweep up and reuse. After the pavement is dry, sweep up any leftover salt to save for the next storm.
• Protect your property. Winter salt can corrode concrete, eat away at driveways, damage flooring, and kill grass and plants along walkways, leading to expensive repairs and replacement costs.

For Businesses

Commercial properties often use large amounts of deicer during storms, but poor storage and over-application can have costly and environmental consequences.

Best practices for businesses:

• Store winter salt properly. Keep piles covered and away from storm drains and waterways.
• Avoid overspreading. Use calibrated spreaders to control application rates and prevent waste.
• Train staff. Ensure maintenance crews understand proper application and cleanup methods to reduce liability and environmental impact.

Environmental and Health Impacts

Excess winter salt doesn’t just disappear. When salt washes into storm drains, it flows directly into local creeks, rivers, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. High salt levels harm fish, aquatic life, and freshwater habitats. Over time, salt accumulation also affects drinking water, leading to higher treatment costs for communities.

Winter salt exposure can irritate pet paws and human skin, and when tracked indoors, it can damage floors, carpets, and furniture, creating another source of unnecessary expense.

Do Your Part

By salting smarter this winter, you can:

• Save money on salt and maintenance.
• Protect your property and landscaping.
• Keep local waterways healthy.
• Ensure safer conditions for your family, pets, and community.

Together, small actions make a big impact. Let’s keep Prince William County safe and clean this winter.

Learn more about winter salt management and stormwater protection: Winter Salt Smart

You can also visit the Northern Virginia Regional Commission’s website for more information.