The article analyzes data on the use of an integral indicator of the concentration of organohalogen compounds (OHC) to control the quality of industrial and natural waters. The results of studies of natural waters of lakes in the Arkhangelsk region were presented. Several "conventionally clean" lakes that have never been subjected to technogenic impact, as well as those that have previously been subjected to direct anthropogenic impact, were studied. It was shown that the OHC rate of natural waters was not an indicator of water pollution unlike with industrial wastewater. It was emphasized that this indicator of natural water determines the background concentration of organohalogen compounds, which was not a constant value, since it was caused by many biotic and abiotic factors.