Disturbing potential acid sulfate soils can have a destructive effect on plant and fish life, and on aquatic ecosystems. Flushing of acidic leachate to groundwater and surface waters can cause a number of impacts, including:
* Ecological damage to aquatic and riparian ecosystems through fish kills, increased fish disease outbreaks, dominance of acid-tolerant species, precipitation of iron, etc. 
* Effects on estuarine fisheries and aquaculture projects (increased disease, loss of spawning area, etc.). 
* Contamination of groundwater and surface water with arsenic, aluminium and other metals.
* Reduction in agricultural productivity through metal contamination of soils (predominantly by aluminium).
* Damage to infrastructure through the corrosion of concrete and steel pipes, bridges and other sub-surface assets.