Water Turbidity

AUS-TSW-AGR-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

50 NTU
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The upper end of this range, 50 NTU, serves as a scientifically defensible detrimental threshold. Exceeding this value signifies a transition from a "low-risk" state to one where adverse ecological effects are probable.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity measured as the concentration of suspended particles in water, expressed in NTU, representing the clarity of water in lowland rivers.

Benchmark Definition:

This threshold marks the upper limit of water turbidity beyond which ecological harm is likely in temperate semi-arid agricultural catchments.

Justification:

Based on the upper limit of the ANZECC low-risk range for lowland rivers, indicating degraded conditions when exceeded.

Supporting Sources (52)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Water quality guidelines for irrigation - ResearchGate
(PDF) Water quality guidelines for irrigation - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Water quality guidelines for irrigation - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of A Bayesian approach to understanding the key factors influencing temporal variability in stream water quality – a case study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - HESS
A Bayesian approach to understanding the key factors influencing temporal variability in stream water quality – a case study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - HESS
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Water Quality Degradation of Coastal Waterways in the Wet Tropics, Australia, accessed July 21, 2025

View Source
Preview of A critical review of paired catchment studies with reference to seasonal flows and climatic variability - eWater
A critical review of paired catchment studies with reference to seasonal flows and climatic variability - eWater
Contextual Support Journal

A critical review of paired catchment studies with reference to seasonal flows and climatic variability - eWater

View Source
Preview of A relationship between environmental degradation and mental health in rural Western Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
A relationship between environmental degradation and mental health in rural Western Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Report on the Condition of Agricultural Land in South Australia

View Source
Preview of A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation - lerf/esalq/usp
A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation - lerf/esalq/usp
Contextual Support Journal

A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation - lerf/esalq/usp

View Source
Preview of Agricultural resource priorities and recommendations for the Avon River Basin Natural Resource Management Strategy - DPIRD's Digital library
Agricultural resource priorities and recommendations for the Avon River Basin Natural Resource Management Strategy - DPIRD's Digital library
Contextual Support

Agricultural resource priorities and recommendations for the Avon River Basin Natural Resource Management Strategy - DPIRD's Digital library

View Source
Preview of ANZECC 2000 (SE Aust.) 41
ANZECC 2000 (SE Aust.) 41
Contextual Support Journal

ANZECC 2000 (SE Aust.) 41

View Source
Preview of Assessing Water Quality - Secondary Education Years 9 to 12 - Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch, accessed August 12, 2025,
Assessing Water Quality - Secondary Education Years 9 to 12 - Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Assessing water quality - ACT Waterwatch.

View Source
Preview of Australia Freshwater Ecology, Processes and Management | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Australia Freshwater Ecology, Processes and Management | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

The Ecological and Hydrological Significance of Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams in the Arid and Semi-arid American Southwest - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

View Source
Preview of Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters 1992
Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters 1992
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Basin Salinity Management 2030 – strategies and reports

View Source
Preview of Bushfires and water quality
Bushfires and water quality
Contextual Support Government

Bushfires and water quality

View Source
Preview of CHAPTER 2 Forests - Es.lancs.ac.uk
CHAPTER 2 Forests - Es.lancs.ac.uk
Contextual Support Journal

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University

View Source
Preview of Chapter 5 Crop Residues of the Contiguous United States: Balancing Feedstock and Soil Needs With Conservation Tillage, Cover Cro - BioEnergy KDF
Chapter 5 Crop Residues of the Contiguous United States: Balancing Feedstock and Soil Needs With Conservation Tillage, Cover Cro - BioEnergy KDF
Contextual Support

Effect of changing land use from virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland to a crop or pasture system on sediment

View Source
Preview of Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025
Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Turbidity | Australia state of the environment 2021

View Source
Preview of Developing future farming systems for the eastern wheatbelt
Developing future farming systems for the eastern wheatbelt
Contextual Support Government

Chapter 5 Crop Residues of the Contiguous United States: Balancing Feedstock and Soil Needs With Conservation Tillage, Cover Cro - BioEnergy KDF

View Source
Preview of Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,
Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia
Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia
Contextual Support Government

Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia, accessed July 17, 2025

View Source
Preview of Effect of changing land use from virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland to a crop or pasture system on sediment
Effect of changing land use from virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland to a crop or pasture system on sediment
Contextual Support Journal

Effect of changing land use from virgin brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland to a crop or pasture system on sediment

View Source
Preview of Effects of crop and pasture rotations and surface cover on rainfall infiltration on a Kandosol in south-west Queensland - ResearchGate
Effects of crop and pasture rotations and surface cover on rainfall infiltration on a Kandosol in south-west Queensland - ResearchGate
Contextual Support

Effects of crop and pasture rotations and surface cover on rainfall infiltration on a Kandosol in south-west Queensland - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Eyre Peninsula Regional Landscape Plan 2021-2026 - Department for Environment and Water
Eyre Peninsula Regional Landscape Plan 2021-2026 - Department for Environment and Water
Contextual Support Journal

Regen Ag #9- Nurture the Water Cycle - Dirty Clean Food

View Source
Preview of FARM DAMS – A GUIDE TO SITING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ON EYRE PENINSULA - Sheep Connect SA
FARM DAMS – A GUIDE TO SITING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ON EYRE PENINSULA - Sheep Connect SA
Contextual Support Journal

Farm water for the north-eastern and eastern wheatbelt of Western ...

View Source
Preview of Farm water for the north-eastern and eastern wheatbelt of Western ...
Farm water for the north-eastern and eastern wheatbelt of Western ...
Contextual Support

Farm water for the north-eastern and eastern wheatbelt of Western ...

View Source
Preview of How does sediment affect the Great Barrier Reef?
How does sediment affect the Great Barrier Reef?
Contextual Support Journal

How does sediment affect the Great Barrier Reef?

View Source
Preview of In-Situ Inc. 43
In-Situ Inc. 43
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

In-Situ Inc. 43

View Source
Preview of Logging Impacts On Streams - Cloudfront.net
Logging Impacts On Streams - Cloudfront.net
Contextual Support Journal

The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU

View Source
Preview of Lower Nambucca River Estuary Water Quality Study DRAFT 28 September 2009
Lower Nambucca River Estuary Water Quality Study DRAFT 28 September 2009
Contextual Support Journal

Lower Nambucca River Estuary Water Quality Study DRAFT 28 September 2009

View Source
Preview of Mallee bioregion - Wikipedia
Mallee bioregion - Wikipedia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

FARM DAMS – A GUIDE TO SITING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ON EYRE PENINSULA - Sheep Connect SA

View Source
Preview of Murray Darling Basin - PDF Data Quality Statement - Water Quality MDB - Data.NSW
Murray Darling Basin - PDF Data Quality Statement - Water Quality MDB - Data.NSW
Contextual Support

Murray Darling Basin - PDF Data Quality Statement - Water Quality MDB - Data.NSW

View Source
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,
Direct Evidence

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW

View Source
Preview of Queensland Murray-Darling Freshwater Biogeographic Province 6 Water quality - WetlandInfo, accessed July 16, 2025,
Queensland Murray-Darling Freshwater Biogeographic Province 6 Water quality - WetlandInfo, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of forestry impacts on waterway health in NSW coastal forests, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regen Ag #9- Nurture the Water Cycle - Dirty Clean Food
Regen Ag #9- Nurture the Water Cycle - Dirty Clean Food
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Water Quality Guidelines Level of protection, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 16, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture Australia: Benefits and Practices - SONIC Natural Farming, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Report on the Condition of Agricultural Land in South Australia
Report on the Condition of Agricultural Land in South Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia

View Source
Preview of River Murray Water Quality Monitoring Program
River Murray Water Quality Monitoring Program
Contextual Support Government

Water information reporting | Western Australian Government

View Source
Preview of River water quality: clarity and turbidity - Stats NZ
River water quality: clarity and turbidity - Stats NZ
Contextual Support Government

Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters 1992

View Source
Preview of Sedimentation from landscape clearance-induced soil erosion threatens waterhole persistence in a semi-arid river system, southern Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025,
Sedimentation from landscape clearance-induced soil erosion threatens waterhole persistence in a semi-arid river system, southern Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell ...

View Source
Preview of Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment ...
Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment ...
Regulatory Framework Government

Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment ...

View Source
Preview of Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )
Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )
Contextual Support Government

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia

View Source
Preview of Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University
Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia: Benefits and Challenges - Charles Sturt University
Contextual Support Journal

Shelterbelts for control of wind erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management, accessed August 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Ecological and Hydrological Significance of Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams in the Arid and Semi-arid American Southwest - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Ecological and Hydrological Significance of Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams in the Arid and Semi-arid American Southwest - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Contextual Support Journal

The Phosphorus Buffering Index – What Does it Mean for Your Soil? - Summit Fertilizers

View Source
Preview of The Impact of Stormwater – Sediment
The Impact of Stormwater – Sediment
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Impact of Stormwater – Sediment

View Source
Preview of Turbidity | River Detectives, accessed July 16, 2025,
Turbidity | River Detectives, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Kosciuszko National Park's health a mixed diagnosis in first EcoHealth Scorecard

View Source
Preview of Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of understorey biomass in semi-arid woodlands of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,
Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of understorey biomass in semi-arid woodlands of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Water information reporting | Western Australian Government
Water information reporting | Western Australian Government
Contextual Support Government

Water information reporting | Western Australian Government

View Source
Preview of Water quality - DCCEEW, accessed July 16, 2025,
Water quality - DCCEEW, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Water quality - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Water quality - EPA SA
Water quality - EPA SA
Contextual Support

Water quality - EPA SA

Preview of Water quality - EPA SA
Water quality - EPA SA
Contextual Support

Water quality - EPA SA

Preview of Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority
Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority
Contextual Support Government

Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source
Preview of Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 5, 2025
Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support

(PDF) Water quality in two Australian dryland rivers: spatial and ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025,
Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

National Guidelines for Water Quality | Department of Natural ...

View Source
Preview of What is sediment? - Fitzroy Partnership for River Health
What is sediment? - Fitzroy Partnership for River Health
Contextual Support Journal

How does sediment affect the Great Barrier Reef?

View Source
Preview of What is water? - The Australian Museum
What is water? - The Australian Museum
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

What is water? - The Australian Museum

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Exceeding 50 NTU is associated with reduced primary productivity, habitat smothering, and stress on aquatic fauna. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-AGR-WTU family.

6 NTU Low
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
Point Active v1
— NTU Low
Agricultural Crop Production · Not Stated
OptimalRange Active v1