"Road salt is a big help to roads and sidewalks in the winter, but it wreaks havoc in many streams in the northern United States, including Milwaukee.

The amount of chloride is increasing in many waterways, which has implications for the health of aquatic life, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The study showed chloride concentrations often exceed toxic levels in northern streams.

And while levels were the highest during the winter, the study found they increased over time in all seasons in some cities, including Milwaukee, Chicago and Denver."

Lee Bergquist reports for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel December 15, 2014, [2]