Sodium chloride is commonly used in the production of chemicals including caustic soda, chlorine, sodium chlorite and sodium hypochlorite. Chlorides are naturally occurring in soil and rocks and can be leached into the water supply by weathering.

Chloride is commonly fund in wastewater and streams. Chloride can get into your drinking water supply  via wastewater from industries and water softening, road salting, agricultural runoff and water produced from gas and oil wells.

Chloride consumption has been linked to congestive heart failure and hypertension.