This is a reprint from a previous Around The Town community column.

BEREA, Ohio — This past week’s invasion of bone-chilling air, accompanied by wind-blown snow, had us thinking about the salt spread on our roadways and other places where maintaining traction is necessary.

The recent dose of disagreeable weather arrived just in time, ushering in Winter Salt Awareness Week, founded by the Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership and promoted locally by the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District (CSWD).

Salt reduces accidents on two-lane roads by 87 percent and on multi-lane highways by 78 percent.

“We rely on salt to keep our roads safe in winter, but using more salt than needed comes with a heavy price,” CSWD warns.

However, according to Amy Roskilly, CSWD’s conservation education and communications manager, “Its widespread use has led to the steady salinization of surface water and groundwater, threatening freshwater resources and our drinking water.”

“Elevated salt levels threaten our economy, infrastructure, pets, plants and wildlife,” Roskilly said. “We need salt, but we don’t need it in the amount it is being used.”

Ohio uses 3.5 million tons of salt annually, equal to about 137 pounds per person.

More than $5 billion is estimated to be spent annually to repair salt damage to infrastructure.

Almost all the salt applied ends up in our local waterways through storm drains, harming wildlife, fish and plants. It can also enter our drinking water.

One 12-ounce coffee cup full of salt is enough to cover about 10 sidewalk squares, and there should be at least 3 inches between salt granules.

For those of us spreading salt on our sidewalks, remember that salt (sodium chloride) only works above 15 degrees Fahrenheit (F).

For colder temperatures, use a small amount of sand for added traction or switch to an ice-melting product designed to work at colder temperatures.

No matter what you use, be sure to wipe off your pets’ paws after a walk.

Salt works best when applied right before the snow falls or right after the snow is removed from your driveway or sidewalk.

Do not apply salt when rain is forecast — it will wash away into the storm drain and local waterways.

Precautions regarding excessive winter salt use are particularly important in Berea, whose primary water source is the Rocky River’s east branch.

Berea is the only southwest suburban municipality with its own water treatment system.

Mayor Cyril Kleem has said that if the Rocky River’s salt content becomes too high during winter, “we can blend it with Coe Lake water or switch to Coe Lake as a backup.”

In an emergency, Berea can tap into Cleveland Water.

“However, the last time we used Cleveland Water was before my time,” said Kleem, who has been mayor since 2008.

Read more from the News Sun.