After winter storms, road crews often use salt to melt snow and ice. But salt remains after the roads are cleared, and its components can leach into the ground and contaminate drinking water.

Some Merrimack officials say this is happening at Continental Boulevard and Industrial Drive, putting Merrimack Village residents at risk.

In a letter to the state Department of Transportation, state Sen. Tim McGough, R-Merrimack, and seven state representatives say the salt usage at the intersection has gradually increased sodium chloride levels in the nearby Naticook Brook aquifer and they want the state to reduce it.

This aquifer provides about half of the Merrimack Village District’s municipal water.

Rosemarie Rung, a biochemist and one of the state representatives who cosigned the request, sa

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