News from the EarthWays Center

Studies show that the amount of chloride in our waterways exceed healthy levels for aquatic wildlife. The best way to reduce amount of chloride in rivers and streams is by reducing the amount we put into the system each year through road salts. Brining is the practice of diluting salt to a 23% concentration in water and applying this mixture to roads, parking lots, and sidewalks prior to winter storms as an anti-icing pretreatment. One study found that cities that use brining lead to 45% less chloride conveyed to streams than in cities that use traditional salt application.

On November 1, 2023, the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Deer Creek Watershed Alliance, the City of Webster Groves and the Shaw Series for Stormwater and Landscape Professionals held a Brining Training Workshop for municipalities and road salt applicators. The workshop highlighted the many benefits of brining including improved water quality and reduced financial burden over time. There were non-profit, academic, regulatory, and public works professional perspectives. The peer-to-peer communication between the 21 attendees spurred valuable conversations and connections between the public works professionals who actually carry out this work. Thank you to the City of Webster Groves for hosting and for sharing their brining system with attendees.

It takes all of us to improve water quality!

• Learn other salt reduction tips
• Learn more about salt in our waterways
• Learn more about the impact of brining on salt-reduction
• Learn more about the brining training workshop