Road salt keeps us safe when we're walking and driving in the winter. But excess road salt can harm ecosystems and infrastructure. It can even end up in our drinking water, since it cannot be removed easily by water treatment facilities. When necessary, Westerville manages this situation by diluting surface water from Alum Creek with groundwater.
Did you know that excess road salt can end up in our drinking water? Most drinking water treatment facilities are not equipped to remove road salt from drinking water. This extra salt can have harmful impacts on our health and our drinking water infrastructure.
The Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries has been monitoring chloride from road salt for over two years in the Alum Creek watershed. This data is publicly available on the Saltwatch Clean Water Hub.
We will demonstrate chloride sampling and Mayor David Grimes of the City of Westerville will read a Proclamation recognizing #WinterSaltWeek2026 to raise awareness about the impacts of road salt on our waterways.
DEMO LOCATION: Alum Creek Trail next to the W. Main Street Bridge in Westerville opposite Alum Creek Park North.
PARKING: Park at The Point at Otterbein University, 60 Collegeview Road, Westerville, OR Park at the COTA Westerville Park and Ride parking lot at 312W W Main St, Westerville
DATE/TIME: January 24, 2026, 1pm-1:45pm
@SaveOurStreamsIWLA
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