Freshwater Salinization Syndrome: Emerging Global Problem and Risk Management

Freshwater salinization from numerous anthropogenic activities including weathering of buildings and concrete, the widespread use of deicers, and fertilizers is an emerging global issue impacting safe drinking water, ecosystem health and biodiversity, and infrastructure. The complex interrelationships between salt ions and chemical, biological, and geologic parameters and consequences on the natural, social, and built environment are called Freshwater Salinization Syndrome (FSS). We will analyze and discuss the expanding magnitude and scope of FSS including its discovery of widespread geographic importance in humid regions and connections to human-accelerated weathering and mobilization of ‘chemical cocktails.’ We will also present empirical data analyses illustrating changes in FSS and its water quality impacts across time and space. We outline several frontiers in FSS research, and we also identify new management strategies and tradeoffs.

Impact/Purpose

Freshwater salinization due to both human and natural sources of salts, is an emerging global issue impacting safe drinking water, ecosystem health and biodiversity, infrastructure corrosion, and food production. The complex interrelationships between salt ions and chemical, biological, and geological parameters and consequences on the natural and built environment are called Freshwater Salinization Syndrome (FSS). We review literature on the scope of FSS and present new data illustrating increasing trends in chloride concentrations in the world’s freshwaters including in drinking water supply. We discuss new techniques for monitoring trends and predicting change in ions, metals, and nutrients in streams throughout the U.S. We also evaluate the impacts of salt on urban infrastructure and stormwater management features. We then discuss stream restoration and evaluate water quality impacts of alternative deicers. We conclude by analyzing FSS management strategies using a watershed approach, stormwater management, stream restoration, alternative deicers, private groundwater well testing, groundwater remediation, ecosystem restoration, and others.

Citation

Kaushal, S., G. Likens, P. Mayer, M. Pace, J. Reimer, C. Maas, J. Galella, R. Utz, AND S. Duan. Freshwater Salinization Syndrome: Emerging Global Problem and Risk Management. European GeoSciences Union, virtual, Virtual, April 19 - 30, 2021.