Community Meeting: Addressing Road Salting Concerns and Protecting Our Waterways

District 18 residents (and other City of Madison residents),

Following the concerns voiced by our community during the January storm regarding road conditions, we're hosting a community meeting to address these issues and explore potential solutions.

Please join us for a community meeting hosted by the City of Madison Water Utility and Streets divisions. We'll delve into the impacts of road salting applications on our infrastructure and waterways, particularly our drinking water source. Your input is invaluable as we discuss how to better prepare for future storms and explore alternative approaches to road maintenance.

Date: Tuesday, April 2nd
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Water Utility, 119 E Olin Avenue – conference rooms A&B on the first floor of the building

The safety and well-being of our residents are paramount for the City of Madison. The Public Works Department, comprised of five agencies – Water, Streets, Parks, Engineering, and Fleet Service – is deeply affected by road salt application. These departments collaborate closely to develop procedures ensuring residents' safety while safeguarding our infrastructure and waterways.

Excessive salting of roads poses numerous challenges, including weakened infrastructure, salinated water sources, health risks for vulnerable populations, and harm to animals and aquatic life. Madison Water Utility has observed increased sodium levels in our drinking water wells, with road salt believed to be a primary contributor.

To address these concerns, the City of Madison Streets department works in tandem with the Water Utility and other agencies to employ strategic plowing and alternative methods such as brine or sand. It's important to note that in extreme cold temperatures, salt application is ineffective and can exacerbate contamination of water sources.

Your insights and experiences are vital in shaping our response to these challenges. We invite you to join us for an informative session featuring presentations and an open discussion with Public Works leaders and alders.

We urge all community members to participate and share their thoughts on how we can improve road conditions while safeguarding our waterways. For any inquiries, please contact Alder Charles Myadze. We look forward to your attendance.

Alder Charles Myadze