The nature of water-anion bonding is examined using X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy on a Im ZnBr2/6m NaBr aqueous solution, to near critical conditions. Analyses show that upon heating the solution from 25 degreesC to 500 degreesC, a 63% reduction of waters occurs in the solvation shell of ZnBr42-, which is the predominant complex at all pressure-temperature conditions investigated. A similar reduction in the hydration shell of waters in the Br- aqua ion was found. Our results indicate that the water-anion and water-water bond breaking mechanisms occurring at high temperatures are essentially the same. This is consistent with the hydration waters being weakly hydrogen bonded to halide anions in electrolyte solutions.