Salting behaviors influence urban stream conductivity in Boston, Massachusetts (USA)

Allison H. Roy; Annika Quick; Rebecca L. Hale; Kristina G. Hopkins; Jack S. Soucie

doi:10.1086/737201

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Salting behaviors influence urban stream conductivity in Boston, Massachusetts (USA)

Allison H. Roy·Annika Quick·Rebecca L. Hale·Kristina G. Hopkins·Jack S. Soucie

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Abstract

Freshwater salinization is a major concern in temperate climates where road salt is used as a deicer to manage snow and ice on roadways. In urban and suburban areas, wastewater, weathering of infrastructure, and salting on parking lots and sidewalks can also contribute to salt contamination, but little is known about how well these sources explain variation in stream conductivity and what factors may mitigate high conductivity in streams. We collected specific conductance samples seasonally over 1 y at 100 stream sites in the greater Boston (Massachusetts, USA) metropolitan area, which reflected a gradient of land use/cover and sociodemographic variables. We also continuously monitored specific conductance over 1 y (November 2021–December 2022) at 3 streams with different levels of impervious cover. Baseflow conductivity from grab samples was best explained by % impervious cover (positive relationship) and season (highest median conductivity in summer and early autumn) ( r 2 = 0.47, p < 0.001). At high impervious cover, watersheds with higher housing vacancy had lower conductivity, suggesting that resident salting behavior may affect conductivity. Continuous conductivity varied with discharge, with spikes in conductivity coincident with increases in discharge in the winter, likely due to the influx of road salt into waterways. In the summer, higher discharge was linked with sharp decreases in conductivity, suggesting that storm flows dilute high baseflow conductivity, although combined sewer overflows caused secondary conductivity pulses. Overall, conductivity was highest during winter storm pulses, but elevated conductivity levels persisted throughout the year, especially in more impervious watersheds. Our research suggests that reduced salt application and street sweeping may reduce conductivity but will not prevent continued salinization. Temporal patterns of conductivity highlight the importance of seasonal road-salt application (winter), seasonal climate (low-flow summers), and precipitation (storm events, droughts) in influencing stream conductivity and can guide monitoring design, policymaking, and management decisions under climate uncertainty.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 42.21991554734396° to 42.495767825431074° latitude; -71.23952903792656° to -70.96962896894124° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Allison H. Roy, Annika Quick, Rebecca L. Hale, Kristina G. Hopkins, Jack S. Soucie. 2025-08-11. Salting behaviors influence urban stream conductivity in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). https://doi.org/10.1086/737201

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