Rock salt affects Lehigh Valley water quality long-term

Chloride levels in the Little Lehigh Creek, which provides drinking water for Allentown, have increased 2.5 times since 2001. Local advocates are raising awareness about the long-lasting effects of rock salt on water quality and ecosystems. The Little Lehigh Watershed Stewards are pushing for reduced salt use by local governments and contractors. They aim to implement better training and equipment calibration to minimize oversalting during winter. Efforts to adopt brine solutions and improve weather monitoring are underway in nearby areas. These strategies have shown potential to cut salt use significantly while maintaining road safety during winter storms.