The most common de-icing agent used in the State of New Hampshire is Sodium Chloride (road salt) because of its low cost and effectiveness. While the road salt works well for de-icing its usage does not come without consequence. Sodium and chloride readily dissolve in water and find their way onto vegetation and into the soil, groundwater, storm drains, and surface waters causing significant impact to the environment including substantial concerns for water quality.
In recent years the demand for clear driving and walking surfaces in the winter months has increased the usage of de-icing agents. Since MVD relies exclusively on groundwater to supply nearly one billion gallons of water annually to its consumers the higher usages of road salt have caused the levels of sodium and chloride to continually increase in nearly all of the MVD wells. Because of this MVD has been working with Emery & Garrett Groundwater Investigations, A Division of GZA (EGGI) to implement the Sodium and Chloride Reduction Project – a road salt mitigation plan aimed to control sodium and chloride levels from continuing to rise in the MVD wells. The project consists of multiple tasks including collaboration with the Town of Merrimack, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, and neighboring municipalities as well as providing Merrimack residents and businesses with important information such as the monitoring results and educational materials listed in the links below.
Information from New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Should you have any questions regarding the Sodium and Chloride Reduction Program please feel free to contact MVD’s Water Quality Specialist, Jill Lavoie at 603-424-9241 x: 103 or jill.lavoie@mvdwater.org
