• For Montgomery County roads (unnumbered roadways), including roads and parking lots in Sligo Creek Park, please report excessive salting preferably on the County’s 311 website or call 311. An online request is always better because photos can be attached to the report, but sometimes all you can manage is a phone call. Your report should include as precise a location as possible, such as the nearest address, cross street, whether it’s on the side or middle of the road, etc. In the web form comments, clearly state that you want salt removed, not added. Request that they get back to you about the actions the County took to clean up. Salt removal sweep-up takes place year round, not just in mid-March as stated on the debris removal description.

• For PG County roads, go to PGC311 to request salt removal, or call 311 (if you’re calling from PG County) or the PG Report Snow Conditions line at 301-883-4748. Tell them you want salt removed and provide a precise location and details as above.

• For State-maintained (numbered) routes, report through the State Highway Administration (SHA) service web form or call SHA at 301-513-7300. If you use the web form, select Topic “Weather-Related” and Subtopic “Snow/Plowing/Salt”. In the comments section, clearly state you are requesting that excessive salt be removed. Request that the SHA get back to you with a follow up report.

• For Takoma Park roads, go to the City of Takoma Park website and click on the link to My TkPk. Select “Submit a Request” then “Issue Not Listed”. Fill out the form and put “Salt Issue” or “Excessive Salt” in the Subject line. We have asked that a selection for “Remove Excessive Salt” be added.

• For roads and parking lots within MoCo parklands (such as Sligo Creek Parkway), report through the online Report a Problem webpage (scroll down once on the page to see the form), or call the Parks customer service line at 301-495-2595. Their hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

• For all excessive salt spotted, please also email FOSC at [email protected] with the location, date spotted, date reported, any photos, and where you reported it. Many educational, residential, and other sites are not covered by the salt reporting systems we mention above. We will try to get excessive salt removed if you report it to us, wherever it is, and will urge more effective salting practices.

In the US, approximately 20 million tons of salt is applied to roads, parking lots, driveways, etc. each year. It gets washed “away” into rivers and streams, polluting our soil, groundwater, and drinking water.