There’s a reason why brine ponds are so popular as a containment method! That’s because brine can be incredibly harmful to the environment if it leaks into surrounding soils or aquifers. The salts found in brine damage the chemical and physical properties of soil in a variety of different ways. It can raise chloride levels, which is toxic for many plants and animals, and because sodium is a natural dispersant, it can cause soil to swell.
Where there is vegetation, brine interferes with a plant’s ability to uptake nutrients through the roots. In high concentrations, brine in the soil will even inhibit a plant’s ability to absorb water through the roots. Where brine spills happen, browning plants may make it appear as if a drought is occurring, no matter how moist the soil is. This is why tough liners are required for brine ponds—to prevent leaks, soil contamination, and environmental damage.
