Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSR-IND-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

42 µS/cm

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The framework established a site-specific guideline value for magnesium of 3 mg/L, which corresponds to an electrical conductivity of 42 µS/cm, designed to protect 99% of aquatic species from chronic toxicity.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) representing the best available condition in Australian tropical rainforests under industrial and infrastructure land use.

Benchmark Definition:

Site-specific water quality limit for 99% species protection at a best-practice industrial site in a tropical monsoonal environment.

Justification:

Derived from extensive local ecotoxicological research, aligning with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ preferred methodology. The value is highly conservative due to the sensitive receiving environment (adjacent to Kakadu National Park).

Sources (1)

Preview of Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,

Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025, Government

Water Quality Guidelines Assessing discharges from a uranium ...

Supporting Sources (24)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The responses of stream fish to the gradient of conductivity: A case study from the Taizi River, China - ResearchGate

(PDF) The responses of stream fish to the gradient of conductivity: A case study from the Taizi River, China - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

The Effects of Elevated Specific Conductivity on the Chronic Toxicity of Mining Influenced Streams Using Ceriodaphnia dubia - PMC - PubMed Central

Preview of (PDF) Water and Sediment Quality Indicators for the Gladstone Harbour Report Card 2017 Cover photo by Natalia Muszkat Photography Acknowledgements - ResearchGate

(PDF) Water and Sediment Quality Indicators for the Gladstone Harbour Report Card 2017 Cover photo by Natalia Muszkat Photography Acknowledgements - ResearchGate

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Water and Sediment Quality Indicators for the Gladstone Harbour Report Card 2017 Cover photo by Natalia Muszkat Photography Acknowledgements - ResearchGate

Preview of (PDF) Water Quality Degradation of Coastal Waterways in the Wet Tropics, Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

(PDF) Water Quality Degradation of Coastal Waterways in the Wet Tropics, Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Requirements for graziers | Environment, land and water ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of 1.5.2.1 Surface water - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

1.5.2.1 Surface water - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia's Northern Tropical Rivers - Report 5 - Water quality - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia's Northern Tropical Rivers - Report 5 - Water quality - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Threshold Indicator Taxa ANalysis and change points (dots) for the ...

Preview of A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - V, accessed July 22, 2025

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - V, accessed July 22, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

1.5.2.1 Surface water - Bioregional Assessments |

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, accessed August 2, 2025,

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, accessed August 2, 2025,

Regulatory Framework

National Guidelines for Water Quality | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Preview of Branchial osmoregulation in the euryhaline bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas: a molecular analysis of ion transporters - Company of Biologists Journals

Branchial osmoregulation in the euryhaline bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas: a molecular analysis of ion transporters - Company of Biologists Journals

Contextual Support Journal

Branchial osmoregulation in the euryhaline bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas: a molecular analysis of ion transporters - Company of Biologists Journals

Preview of Bruce Highway Upgrade – Clairview to Prosperine | The APP Group

Bruce Highway Upgrade – Clairview to Prosperine | The APP Group

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How roads can help fix the Great Barrier Reef's water quality problem | AECOM

Preview of Compliance Report - Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra Section C (Traveston to Woondum) December 2020 - Transport and Main Roads

Compliance Report - Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra Section C (Traveston to Woondum) December 2020 - Transport and Main Roads

Irrelevant

Compliance Report - Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra Section C (Traveston to Woondum) December 2020 - Transport and Main Roads

Preview of Diatom–water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed May 15, 2025,

Diatom–water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Diatom0water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research

Preview of Environmental Impact Statement Addendum Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project - State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

Environmental Impact Statement Addendum Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project - State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Impact Statement Addendum Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project - State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

Preview of Guidelines for the management of water in mines and quarries - Resources Victoria, accessed July 24, 2025

Guidelines for the management of water in mines and quarries - Resources Victoria, accessed July 24, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Eastern Pilbara Water Resources Management Plan - EPA WA, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of Ion Regulation In Fish - Canada.ca

Ion Regulation In Fish - Canada.ca

Contextual Support Journal

Acid and ion transfer across the gills of fish: Mechanisms and regulation - ResearchGate

Preview of Land-use effects on water quality in an intensively managed catchment in the Australian humid tropics - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 21, 2025

Land-use effects on water quality in an intensively managed catchment in the Australian humid tropics - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 21, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Ion regulation in fish gills: recent progress in the cellular and molecular mechanisms

Preview of National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,

National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,

Regulatory Framework

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ...

Preview of Osmoregulation in the Hawaiian anchialine shrimp Halocaridina rubra (Crustacea: Atyidae): expression of ion transporters, mitochondria-rich cell proliferation and hemolymph osmolality during salinity transfers - Company of Biologists Journals

Osmoregulation in the Hawaiian anchialine shrimp Halocaridina rubra (Crustacea: Atyidae): expression of ion transporters, mitochondria-rich cell proliferation and hemolymph osmolality during salinity transfers - Company of Biologists Journals

Contextual Support Journal

Osmoregulation in the Hawaiian anchialine shrimp Halocaridina rubra (Crustacea: Atyidae): expression of ion transporters, mitochondria-rich cell proliferation and hemolymph osmolality during salinity transfers - Company of Biologists Journals

Preview of Percentage compliance with ANZECC water quality trigger values for aquatic ecosystems, primary contact recreation and secondary, accessed August 11, 2025

Percentage compliance with ANZECC water quality trigger values for aquatic ecosystems, primary contact recreation and secondary, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Values, Water Quality Objectives and Targets for the Black Ross Water Quality Improvement Plan Appendices December - Creek to Coral

Preview of Port of Gladstone Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project - Coordinator-General's report for an environmental impact sta - State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

Port of Gladstone Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project - Coordinator-General's report for an environmental impact sta - State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

Contextual Support

Port of Gladstone Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project - Coordinator-General's report for an environmental impact sta - State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

Preview of The Effects of Elevated Specific Conductivity on the Chronic Toxicity of Mining Influenced Streams Using Ceriodaphnia dubia - PubMed Central, accessed August 10, 2025

The Effects of Elevated Specific Conductivity on the Chronic Toxicity of Mining Influenced Streams Using Ceriodaphnia dubia - PubMed Central, accessed August 10, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority

Preview of understanding the new anzecc water quality guidelines - Environmetrics Australia, accessed May 11, 2025,

understanding the new anzecc water quality guidelines - Environmetrics Australia, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of Water Report 2019 - Glencore

Water Report 2019 - Glencore

Contextual Support Journal

Water Report 2019 - Glencore

Preview of Water stewardship | Leading practice handbooks for sustainable mining

Water stewardship | Leading practice handbooks for sustainable mining

Contextual Support Journal

ssr173 Ecotoxicological testing protocols for Australian tropical freshwater ecosystems - DCCEEW

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 20 Mar 2026

Notes

The functional range for this context is defined by the site's tiered management triggers: the Lower Boundary is the natural background, proxied by the 'Focus' trigger of < 20 µS/cm; the Optimal Range for best-practice operations is < 30 µS/cm (below the 'Action' trigger); and the Upper Detrimental Threshold for chronic exposure is > 42 µS/cm, beyond which unacceptable ecological harm is expected.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-IND-WEC family.