An analysis of the economic impact of proposed water effluent guidelines upon 24 inorganic chemicals was performed based on water treatment cost data supplied by the EPA. The inorganic chemicals included certain chlorides, sulfates, chlorine and caustic soda, acids, hydrogen peroxide, lime, calcium carbide, titanium dioxides, bichromates, solar and evaporated salt, sodium silicate, sodium metal, sodium sulfite, and synthetic soda ash. A methodology was developed to judge the broader economic effects on these chemicals, first by assessing the likelihood that treatment costs would be defrayed through price increases, and secondly, if price increases were not likely, plant shutdowns would occur. Based on this approach and using the treatment costs supplied that was concluded that mercury cell chlorine/caustic, lime, sludge sulfuric acid, sulfate process titanium dioxide and sodium bichromate would be most affected.