Penn State Extension To Hold Sept. 23 Webinar On A Statewide Road Salt Initiative To Promote Smarter Winter Maintenance, Pollution Reduction

The Penn State Extension will host a webinar September 23 on a Statewide Road Salt Initiative to promote smarter winter maintenance and pollution reduction from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Road salt is essential for winter safety, but its overuse can have lasting consequences for Pennsylvania's waterways, infrastructure, and natural resources.

This webinar will examine the causes and impacts of road salt pollution, including rising chloride levels in streams, lakes, groundwater, and drinking water supplies.

[Note: Chloride contamination also comes from year-round dumping of contaminated water-- "brine"--  from conventional oil and gas wells on dirt, gravel and paved roads in oil and gas areas.  

[This water is many times saltier than seawater and contains radioactive radium and 33 other pollutants that exceed health and environmental standards, according to Penn State research.  Read more here.]

Webinar participants will be introduced to Pennsylvania Road Salt Action (PARSA), a statewide initiative dedicated to reducing road salt pollution through education, collaboration, and practical solutions. 

Learn how PARSA's volunteer working group is advancing this effort and how Pennsylvania Master Watershed Stewards can support outreach, community education, and the adoption of smarter winter maintenance practices across the Commonwealth.

Who is this for?

-- Anyone interested in water resources 

-- Road salt applicators 

-- Public works department staff 

-- Watershed managers 

-- Homeowners 

-- Individuals interested in reducing road salt use

What will you learn?

-- Hear about current efforts to address road salt pollution and protect water resources 

-- Ask questions about road salt use and reduction strategies 

-- Share ideas with professionals from across Pennsylvania 

-- Learn about the PARSA initiative

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.

Resource Link:

-- The Conversation: Pennsylvania Roads Are Being Coated In Radioactive Oil & Gas Wastewater - New DEP Well Permit Allows Uncontrolled Use [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Three Rivers WaterKeeper, Upper Chartiers Creek Watershed Assn. File Intent To Sue PA Transformer Technology, LLC For Alleged Discharges Of PCBs In Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- Mountain Watershed Association To Hold Aug. 1 Community Remembrance Event For Blue Hole Creek, Somerset County, Now Contaminated With Lead From Shooting Range  [PaEN]

-- Foundation For Sustainable Forests Loving The Land - Landowners Tell Their Stories: Remembering Working Forest Landowner Robert Crawford  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts 5-Part Woodland Stewardship - Guided Engagement With Your Land Webinar Series Beginning Sept. 23  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Tribune-Democrat: Tubmill Trout Unlimited Club Completes Hendricks Creek Stream Restoration Project In Westmoreland County 

-- Centre Daily Times - Mark Nale - Afield: Why It May Be Time To Rethink Lawn Care, Sizes In Pennsylvania 

[Posted: July 30, 2026]  PA Environment Digest