The effect of chemicals on receiving waters may vary with the specific use and overall ecological health of each body of water. In some cases, water with elevated concentrations of sodium may be suitable for some uses, but undesirable for certain industrial purposes. For example, high concentrations of sodium in water for human consumption are harmful to people with certain types of heart or kidney diseases, but the major objection comes from taste preferences.

The effect of high salinity on fish life varies with the tolerance of individual species. Some fish cannot tolerate a salt level as low as 400 ppm, while others are able to live with levels higher than that of seawater (30,000 ppm.)

Salt levels in highway runoff vary with the amount of chemicals applied and the intensity of subsequent rainstorm events. Highway runoff can contain salt levels as low as 10 ppm, particularly in areas where chemicals are not used.