EFFECTS OF ROAD SALT ON A VERMONT STREAM

THIS ARTICLE EVALUATES THE FATE OF HIGHWAY SALT APPLIED IN THE SLEEPERS RIVER BASIN OF NORTHERN VERMONT. THE SALT CONTENT OF THE STREAMS IS CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF CONCENTRATIONS, SEASONAL TRENDS, AND THE TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET OF SALT DELIVERY. STREAM STUDIES DURING 1968 AND 1970 DEMONSTRATED THE EFFECT OF HIGHWAY SALTING ON THE RURAL STREAMS STUDIED. CONTROL CATCHMENT STREAMS EXHIBITED LOW, RATHER CONSISTENT LEVELS OF CHLORIDE AND SODIUM IONS, WHEREAS HIGHWAY-AFFECTED SITES SHOWED COMPARATIVELY HIGH SALT LEVELS AND DISTINCT SEASONAL TRENDS. MUCH OF THE STUDY AREA'S ROAD SALT WAS FLUSHED AWAY DURING THE SPRING MELT; HOWEVER, SOME OF THE SALT OBVIOUSLY WAS DISCHARGED INTO ROADSIDE SOILS, TO REAPPEAR LATER IN THE SUMMER BASEFLOW. FROM A PRACTICAL VIEWPOINT, IMPROVED ROAD-SALT-APPLICATION TECHNIQUES PERHAPS WOULD KEEP SALT CLOSER TO THE ROAD PAVEMENT, THUS ALLOWING MORE EFFICIENT FLUSHING OF THE CHEMICALS IN SPRING. LIKEWISE, MORE SCIENTIFIC SALTING AND PLOWING METHODOLOGY PROBABLY WOULD GREATLY REDUCE THE TOTAL VOLUME OF CHEMICALS NEEDED TO DO THE JOB. /AUTHOR/

• Authors:
  • Kunkle, S H
• Publication Date: 1972-5

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 290-5
• Serial:
  • Journal Awwa
  • Volume: 64
  • Issue Number: 5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chlorides; Contaminants; Deicers (Equipment); Runoff; Snowmelt; Streams; Water pollution; Water quality
• Uncontrolled Terms: Deicers
• Old TRIS Terms: Stream pollution
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00204461
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1972 12:00AM