Too Much Salt? Report it!

Help protect Lake Wingra by reporting excessive sidewalk salt to the City of Madison.

How to Report Excessive Sidewalk Salt

1. Visit the City of Madison’s Report a Problem page. Or find it at https://www.cityofmadison.com/reportaproblem/

2. Fill out the Sidewalk Concerns form.

• Select the “Sidewalk Concern” tab and click the button “Report a sidewalk concern.”
• Under “Sidewalk Concern,” select “Excessive salt left after all ice has melted.”
• Add contact information to give your report credibility and a way to contact you with a resolution.
• Select “Excessive salt left after all ice has melted” under “Request Type.”
• Add location information. There is room for comments.
• Add a brief description of the “Sidewalk Concern” or simply write “Excessive salt on the sidewalk.”
• Add photos and submit.
  

3. Submit your report.

Your report helps the City identify potential excessive salt use and determine whether follow-up is needed.

What Should You Report?

The City Madison Website states:

“Once the ice melts, property owners must clean leftover salt from the sidewalk. The City may issue fines for excess salt. Even if a hired contractor spreads the salt, these fines belong to the property owner.

You can report concerns of excess salt on public sidewalks. We cannot enforce the excess salt ordinance on driveway aprons or private property. This includes private walks, private parking lots or other private propertyLook for sidewalks with large amounts of salt left after all ice has been melted or at a time when no winter precipitation in expected in the text couple of days.”

The best time to report excessive salt is when there is no longer ice on the sidewalk and there is no predicted winter precipitation in the next two days.

Why Does It Matter?

Salt doesn’t disappear when the snow melts. It travels with melting snow and rain into storm drains, streams, lakes, and groundwater. Chloride, the component of salt that harms freshwater ecosystems, can accumulate over time and threaten aquatic life.

Lake Wingra is already affected by elevated chloride levels. Reducing unnecessary salt use throughout the watershed is one way we can help protect the lake.

Help Keep Lake Wingra Fresh

Reporting excessive sidewalk salt is one small action that can make a difference. You can also help by using less salt yourself, sweeping up unused salt when conditions are safe, and encouraging neighbors and businesses to adopt salt-wise practices.

Thank you for helping keep Lake Wingra healthy!