Road salt chloride exposure in urban streambeds and links to groundwater – surface water interactions and salt sources

Groundwater transport of chloride (Cl) containing road salt deicers is an important contributor to salinization of fresh surface waters in temperate climates. While mass loading of salt to streams via groundwater has received greater recognition lately, only a few studies have demonstrated the unique risk posed by the direct discharge of salt-laden groundwater to aquatic life residing in the benthic zone (e.g., macroinvertebrates, mussels, …