Winter Salt Week Kickoff at 7 Locks Brewing

Join us on Saturday, January 23rd between 2PM - 5PM at 7 Locks Brewing in Rockville, Md. to learn how winter salt affects our health and freshwater ecosystems, what’s being done and how we can support local smart salting efforts. During the event we will learn how much salt is needed to keep us safe during the winter while keeping environmental health in mind. Members of the media, government officials, nongovernmental organizations, and members of the public are invited to this event.

7 Locks Brewing will also be launching a salty beer just for the event! So be sure to try the salted caramel stout while learning about winter salt pollution from local partners.

We encourage you to bring a water sample (from tap water or from a local waterway) with you in a closed container to test for salt pollution during the event.

While this event is free, we ask that you please register in advance so that we can notify you in case of cancellation or rescheduling due to inclement weather. The rain date for this event is January 30th.

(Check back soon!)

• Indoor Activities: Organizations will be tabling indoors throughout the event with water monitoring and salt-related activities and are available for questions, interview, and comments.
• Water Sample Testing: Bring in a water sample from a local stream or from your tap to have it tested for chloride (a component of road salt pollution).
• Get Free Salt Watch Swag: Stop by the Salt Watch table to get a free Salt Watch kit, stickers and more! You can use your Salt Watch kit to monitor for winter salt in local waterways or from your tap!

The Impacts of Too Much Salt

Although salt keeps our roads safe during winter, using more salt than needed comes at an expensive price to our waterways, our infrastructure, and our drinking water. Winter salt runs off the roads and becomes a permanent pollutant in our waterways. Only one teaspoon of road salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water.

Data compiled by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin shows a 10-fold increase in chloride (a chemical released from the breakdown of winter salt) in the Potomac River at Great Falls over the past 80 years.

There are 28 streams in Maryland considered impaired by chloride.

This event is brought to you by the Izaak Walton League of America, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.

Winter Salt Week:

This in-person event is part of a larger event, Winter Salt Week, which runs from January 25-29, 2027 with livestreams from experts across the country each day. Winter Salt Week is a collaboration of governmental and non-governmental organizations across the United States and Canada with a goal to raise awareness around salt pollution and reduction solutions. An informed public can support the adoption of best practices in snow and ice control and advocate for the protection of freshwater resources.

To learn more about Winter Salt Week and register for livestreams, please visit: www.wintersaltweek.org.