S.A.L.T. Connect Delco
SALT = Sustainable Application and Local Training
For over 20 years, communities across the nation have been working to better understand the impacts of road salt in our waterways. Since 2016, the Stroud Water Research Center has organized annual monitoring events in the Fall and Winter called “Salt Snapshots” to test baseflow conditions of the water in our creeks, streams, and tributaries, with the ultimate goal of bringing awareness to the negative impacts of road salt and similar pollution in the greater Delaware River Watershed. Through this research, they have found that road salt is responsible for damaging infrastructure, threatening the health of lakes and streams, and degrading local drinking water.
As of the 2024 Salt Snapshots, there were only a few sites selected for testing in Delaware County. To address these data gaps, in 2025, the Delaware County Office of Sustainability, the Delaware County Conservation District, Pennsylvania Sea Grant, and the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards program came together to form “S.A.L.T. Connect Delco,” partnering with over 15 local organizations to gather 210 samples from streams across Delaware County. This success in the 2025 Fall Snapshot is looking to be built upon and expanded, bringing further awareness to the issue of salt pollution across the region and getting residents involved and interested in citizen science. To view the results of the previous snapshot and other resources to get involved, see the resources below!
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Register for the Penn State Extension & WeConservePA Webinar On Municipal Road Salt Liability
RESOURCES
Stroud's Salt Snapshot Data Results Map
Information Behind the Science at Stroud Water Research Center
Road Salt Pollution | Pennsylvania Road Salt Action
How to Collect a Sample (Credit: Willistown Conservation Trust)
How to Analyze a Sample (Credit: Willistown Conservation Trust)
PARTNERS
2025 Fall Snapshot Press Release
Funding for this project was awarded through the “Protect Your Drinking Water” grant program, administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council with funding from Essential Utilities.
