With snowfall already starting in Maryland, here’s why you may not see as much salt on the roads

As snow returns to parts of Maryland, drivers might notice there isn’t as much salt on the roads as in past winters.

That’s intentional, and part of the Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) ongoing effort to cut back on traditional rock salt in favor of a more sustainable option, salt brine, a liquid mixture that contains about 22% salt.

MDE’s goal is to reduce the amount of chloride pollution entering rivers, streams and groundwater.

Excess road salt can linger in the environment long after the snow melts, harming soil, vegetation, wildlife and even drinking water.

“Once salt has entered the environment, there’s no effective way to remove it,” MDE notes. “The best solution is using less.”

Why it matters

While sodium chloride is cheap, effective, and easy to store, it can: