As road salt washes away, the Mississippi River gets saltier
A truck plows and salts roads in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, on Dec. 9, 2022. (Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Unlike other pollutants, chloride doesn’t break down in water over time. In other words, once it’s in, there’s no getting it out — and just a teaspoon of salt can pollute five gallons of water forever.
Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk
The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk is an independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri, in partnership with Report For America and the Society of Environmental Journalists, funded by the Walton Family Foundation. The Daily Memphian is a member of the reporting network.
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