The South Washington Watershed is focused on combatting chloride pollution by offering free chicken grit as an alternative to winter salt this season. Chicken grit does not come from chickens. Rather, it is small pebbles that chickens who are toothless need to eat in order to effectively digest their food. It is usually made from ground oyster shells or rocks, flint and granite most commonly. The grit is chloride free and a non-chemical option to deicing roads, sidewalks, and driveways this winter.

In addition to being corrosive to road surfaces and transportation infrastructure, in high amounts, chloride can be toxic to wildlife, pets, and roadside vegetation. Chloride runoff can also impact water and soil quality. While deicers rely on chemical reactions to melt ice, grit provides physical traction on top of ice at any temperature and can be swept up and reused throughout the winter season. Information on where and when to pick up free bags of chicken grit is available here.