Now that the majority of south-central Wisconsin has secured supplies of salt to help de-ice roads this winter, it's time to heat up talks on how to use less of it.

Public safety should be the top priority in any discussion of how much road salt to use. But salt does so much damage to water quality, vegetation and wildlife, as well as to pavement, bridges and other structures, that the consequences of salt de-icing have become too costly to ignore.

The stakes are especially high in Dane County, where the region's lakes, wetlands and aquifer are valuable assets.

Last week several Wisconsin counties and cities reported that they had locked in contracts to obtain road salt at reasonable prices. In contrast, much of the rest of the Midwest is scrambling to obtain salt for as much as six times last year's price.

But Wisconsin should not use the supply of reasonably priced salt as reason to back down from efforts to limit salt use.

Madison, for example, has stressed limited salt use since the 1970s. But, with public expectations for clear streets higher than ever, the city is still applying, in most years, more road salt per mile than it did in 1972.

Now, city officials, including Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, are balking at proposals to further cut salt use. Their excuse has merit: Why should Madison cut salt use, risking the anger of drivers, when other communities in the same watershed go on using more salt?

The question highlights the need for all Dane County communities to agree on a campaign to limit road salt.

Low-salt strategies are available, without compromising safety. Examples recommended by the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission include using brine as an anti-icing agent before a snowstorm to cut the need for salt de-icers. Reducing the salt content in sand-salt mixtures is another option, as is improving training for road crews and private applicators.

Furthermore, non-salt alternatives may be on the way. Some communities are already using products made from beet juice, corn and other more environmentally-friendly ingredients, though most have their own drawbacks.

The cost of "business as usual" is too great. High salt levels have already been detected in some Madison wells and in ponds and a portion of Lake Mendota. Add the cost of repairing and replacing roads and other structures eaten away by salt, and the importance of limits is clear.

This winter, the public should think twice about asking road officials the common question: "Why aren't you using more salt?"

Instead, the public should ask: "What are you doing to limit salt use?"