Less Salty 2026: 1 Teaspoon

We are excited to bring you unique content from local experts each day with statewide live webinars at 12:30 p.m. on YouTube all week long. 

Less Salty 2026: with Phil Gaebler

Today’s Episode: 1 Teaspoon

One teaspoon of salt doesn’t look like much, but it’s enough salt, when mixed with water of a five-gallon bucket, to contaminate the water so much that it would not support most lake life. 

When salt washes into our waters it puts aquatic life and freshwater at risk.

Once you put salt down, it doesn’t go away.  Salt harms soil and plant health and corrodes our roads, bridges, and vehicles. It travels into our lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands, putting aquatic life at risk and endangering our freshwater resources. 

A 12 oz. cup of salt is enough to treat an entire 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares. 

A little goes a long way. Salt stays in the environment for a long time, and it does damage the whole journey through the system for years to come.

Our focus with Less Salty with Phil Gaebler is to help property owners learn how to minimize salt use, know when to use salt and how, plus making sure companies you hire, neighbors and community know about responsible salt use in the City of Madison. 

Phil Gaebler is a stormwater engineer with decades of experience in the environmental engineering world. He works for the City of Madison Engineering Division and kickstarted the City with Wisconsin SaltWise with the inception of the now-statewide group. He’s also tasked with completing in-house training for all City salt crews on salt calibration, salt use and more, which helps inform City leaders make decisions on salt use implications, citations, use on roads, sidewalks and more. 

Winter Salt Week Offered Livestream Today! 

While we’ll be sharing a new episode of Less Salty each day this week, don’t miss out on the livestreams over the lunch hour each day with national salt experts sharing their expertise and experiences that have proved successful in their communities.

Today’s topic: Engineering Solutions

The free webinar starts at 12:30 p.m., central time. They’ll be streaming live on YouTube:

Information on the free webinar: 

Discover how innovative engineering can dramatically reduce the need for winter salt. This webinar will highlight design approaches—such as optimized grading, drainage, and material choices—that set the stage for safer, more efficient winter maintenance. We’ll also explore the growing role of smart sensors and connected infrastructure in tracking conditions in real time. Finally, learn how AI-driven storm management tools can support crews in making faster, more precise decisions that keep surfaces safe while minimizing salt use.

Presenters: Connie Fortin, Bolton & Menk, Wilf Nixon, Professional Snowfighters Association

Happy Winter Salt Week!