Hello everybody! 

Ok, it's been 5 months since my last update. During that time, I have been taking chloride tests, researching, and talking with Dr. Jing Tao (senior environmental officer at KC Water) and Mr. Steven Corsi (research hydrologist in Wisconsin for the USGS), and Allison Madison (head of WI Salt Wise, which helps Wisconsin use less road salt). I've found NEW THINGS: 

1) Dr. Tao told me that KC is not testing the streams/creeks immediately after the snow/salting event, and it is supposed to be tested immediately after, if not the day of. That is why they were able to tell me that "the MO River and selected streams do not have increasing chloride, nor is there an increase in quality of aquatic life." 

2) If chloride tests are taken too early or too late, the waterway seems "fine", but peak concentrations of chloride happen whenever road salt is put on the roads, and that is still toxic for the water/wildlife. (2 chloride tests, I took, for example, when it snowed in late January, showed that the readings were 341 and 637+ ppm, and the EPA drinking water standard is 250 ppm). 

3) Allison Madison told me that what helps cities use less salt is salt brine, calibration of salt equipment, adjusting salt use to pavement temperature, and connecting the road salt people to those who have had successes in eco-friendly road salt practices. So far, it seems that KC does not do these practices, but still have to continue to look around. 

Thank you everybody for reading & supporting! Until next time, Marialuna