The ice and snow that fell on the D.C. area during last month’s storm is finally starting to melt. The ice dunes that have been on the sides of streets for weeks are slowly shrinking. But as the melting continues, there’s a danger that’s seeping into our waterways.
“Salt is the biggest enemy of fresh water that there ever was,” said Sujay Kaushal, a professor of geology at the University of Maryland. “It’s a very pressing issue. I’d say salinization issues are the oldest, most boring but yet most important problem there is for water quality.”
Kaushal has been sampling water from the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers for years, as well as water from Piney Branch, Rock Creek and a host of other tributaries. What he’s found is that sodium levels in the water have been rising…