In the long term, rock salt promotes pavement disintegration, pavement and bridge reinforcement corrosion, and corrosion of vehicle bodies, all of which subsequently release rust and other material into surface water and groundwater thereby altering the water chemistry of receiving lakes rivers, and wetlands (USEPA, 1996).
Another polluting source associated with maintenance is bridge paint.
In the course of cleaning a bridge spanning a water body, leaded paint chips can be released into the receiving waters below (Figure 13.2).
This is a major water quality concern in certain states (Dupuis, 2002)