Road salt seeps into well water supplies. Only water testing by a reliable lab can tell you if harmful road salt has contaminated your water. Once you know what is in your water, you can install the right water filter system to remove salt from your water.

Those of us living in areas hit by bad winter weather are quite familiar with the large plows and salt spreaders that help keep our roads safe for travel. Unfortunately, there are some serious downsides to the heavy use of road salts and de-icing chemicals in the winter months.

In addition to contributing to weakening the road asphalt by forming cracks and potholes AND causing our vehicles to rust prematurely, the heavy use of road salts during the winter months are also harming the surrounding environment.

Damage to the nearby soil, vegetation, birds and to other wildlife is well documented. Even worse, the chemicals in road salts are finding their way into our water sources.

Road salt compounds can contaminate lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and water reservoirs by direct runoff or by moving through the soil and into groundwater. As sodium and chloride levels increase in the winter months, they can affect quality of roadside water sources and render the water undrinkable.

Other substances in road salts and de-icers include chemicals such as ferrocyanide, chloride and other metals that are measured in parts-per-billion. Medical studies also suggest that increased sodium intake due to high levels in food and drinking water may contribute to hypertension in humans.

Some states are attempting to tackle the problem head-on. Massachusetts has a Salt Remediation Program, which involves replacing both private and public ground-water supply wells that have been contaminated with road salt and de-icing materials.

Your Water May be at Risk

Bad winter weather is affecting nearly all of us these days. In the Northern United States, bad winter weather is a fact of life. But these days, even the southern regions of the country are increasingly hammered by snow and ice storms ever year. And road salts are just one potential problem that can affect the quality of your water supply.

For the close to 50 million Americans on private well water, regular water testing is of the utmost importance. No one else is looking out for your water quality, so it is up to you to protect yourself.

The 85 million homes supplied by city water should also have their water tested each year. Most water company testing occurs at the water source and during the treatment process--they do not test your home's actual water quality.

Is Your Water Safe? Use AquaMD's Water Diagnostic Service.

Go To AquaMD Water Testing Home Page.