Road salt (primarily sodium chloride) is spread on roads during winter to melt ice and improve traction. Salt lowers water's freezing point, melting ice at temperatures above approximately -10°C. Municipalities are major salt users, treating roads, sidewalks, and parking areas throughout winter. While effective for safety, road salt has environmental concerns: it contaminates groundwater and surface water, harms vegetation and aquatic ecosystems, and corrodes vehicles and infrastructure. Municipalities increasingly use salt management best practices—calibrated spreaders, pre-wetting salt for better adhesion, alternatives like beet juice or brine, and targeted application—to reduce salt use while maintaining safe roads.