Treated effluent and/or storm water can be discharged directly into receiving water bodies (such as rivers, lakes, etc.) or into the ground to recharge aquifers.It is necessary to ensure that the assimilation capacity of the receiving water body is not exceeded, i.e. that the receiving body can accept the quantity of nutrients without being over-loaded. Parameters such as turbidity, temperature, suspended solids, BOD, nitrogen and phosphorus (among others) should be carefully controlled and monitored before releasing any water into a natural body. The use of the water body, whether it is used for industry, recreation, spawning habitat, etc., will influence the quality and quantity of treated waste water that can be introduced without deleterious effects.