Water Turbidity

AUS-TSR-IND-WTU General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

5 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.

Evidence & Context

At levels above 5 NTU, the first signs of major functional shifts in the invertebrate community can appear, particularly for sensitive species that respire through their skin and are thus vulnerable to smothering.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), indicating the clarity of water by quantifying light scattering by suspended materials.

Benchmark Definition:

Threshold turbidity level above which significant ecological harm begins for sensitive aquatic invertebrates.

Justification:

Scientific literature indicates a substantial drop in abundance of sensitive invertebrates above this turbidity level.

Sources (1)

Preview of Construction sediment management - NSW Marine Estate, accessed August 10, 2025,

Construction sediment management - NSW Marine Estate, accessed August 10, 2025, Government

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 21, 2025

Supporting Sources (40)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) A sensory approach to turbidity: How sources and levels shape aquatic light environments and fish visual ecology - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

(PDF) A sensory approach to turbidity: How sources and levels shape aquatic light environments and fish visual ecology - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) A sensory approach to turbidity: How sources and levels shape aquatic light environments and fish visual ecology - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

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,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate 6the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia, accessed July 21, 2025

Preview of 2. Development of a water quality regulation framework for pulse exposures of mine water discharges at a uranium mine in northern Australia - PubMed, accessed July 24, 2025

2. Development of a water quality regulation framework for pulse exposures of mine water discharges at a uranium mine in northern Australia - PubMed, accessed July 24, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

2. Development of a water quality regulation framework for pulse exposures of mine water discharges at a uranium mine in northern Australia - PubMed, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of 5 October 2011 Water quality testing shows little change in Gladstone Harbor The State Government has today released a report r, accessed August 1, 2025,

5 October 2011 Water quality testing shows little change in Gladstone Harbor The State Government has today released a report r, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Waterhouse, J. and Devlin, M. (2011) Managing water quality on the Great Barrier Reef: An overview of MTSRF research outputs, 2006-2010, accessed August 1, 2025,

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,

Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Guidelines Assessing discharges from a uranium ...

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 Journal

Assessing water quality - ACT Waterwatch.

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed May 11, 2025,

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed May 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Northern Territory Government (2020) Darwin Harbour Region Water Quality Objectives, Report Card Section 3.0.

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

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting, accessed August 11, 2025,

Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting, accessed August 11, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Salinity in the Hunter Regulated River - Bioregional Assessments |

Preview of Barron River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

Barron River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Effects of total dissolved solids on growth and mortality predict ...

Preview of BYERWEN COAL PROJECT Assessment of Surface Water Environmental Values - State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, accessed July 21, 2025,

BYERWEN COAL PROJECT Assessment of Surface Water Environmental Values - State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support

BYERWEN COAL PROJECT Assessment of Surface Water Environmental Values - State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Clarity and colour - WetlandInfo, accessed August 12, 2025,

Clarity and colour - WetlandInfo, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PMC - PubMed Central

Preview of Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PubMed Central, accessed July 16, 2025,

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PubMed Central, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management. Water, 15(8), 1589.

Preview of development of ecosystem health bottom-line thresholds for suspended and deposited sediment in New Zealand rivers and streams - Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,

development of ecosystem health bottom-line thresholds for suspended and deposited sediment in New Zealand rivers and streams - Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Fine Sediment Intrusion and its Consequences for River Ecosystems: A Review | Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste | Vol 27, No 1 - ASCE Library, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of Ecosystems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 5, 2025,

Ecosystems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

2025 Guide: Australian Forestry & Sustainable Farming Standards, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Effects of turbidity and introduced tilapia (Oreochromis spp) on macrophytes and invertebrates in a shallow tropical lake | Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, accessed July 24, 2025

Effects of turbidity and introduced tilapia (Oreochromis spp) on macrophytes and invertebrates in a shallow tropical lake | Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, accessed July 24, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Waterhouse, J. (2010) Thresholds of major pollutants with regard to impacts on instream and marine ecosystems, accessed July 21, 2025

Preview of Environmental impact of the Ranger uranium mine, Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory, Australia - OSTI, accessed July 24, 2025

Environmental impact of the Ranger uranium mine, Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory, Australia - OSTI, accessed July 24, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Revised Ranger Mine Water Quality Objectives for Magela Creek and Gulungul Creek (DOCX 1 MB) - DCCEEW

Preview of Erosion & Sediment - Control Guide - Clearwater, accessed July 13, 2025,

Erosion & Sediment - Control Guide - Clearwater, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Stormwater pollution prevention - Building & construction - EPA, accessed July 13, 2025

Preview of Erosion & Sediment Control Field Guide for Builders-V3-screen, accessed August 10, 2025,

Erosion & Sediment Control Field Guide for Builders-V3-screen, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Report - Economic Cost of Erosion and Sediment Loss from Construction Sites

Preview of Erosion and sediment control (ESC) on construction sites | Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,

Erosion and sediment control (ESC) on construction sites | Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Development manual planning scheme policy (PSP) SC6.4.8 Stormwater management Index - NET, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of Final Tully WQIP - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 21, 2025,

Final Tully WQIP - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Final Tully WQIP - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Gladstone LNG Project (Santos) - State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, accessed July 21, 2025,

Gladstone LNG Project (Santos) - State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Gladstone LNG Project (Santos) - State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 2, 2025

Preview of Live data – Saltwater Creek | Cairns Regional Council, accessed July 21, 2025,

Live data – Saltwater Creek | Cairns Regional Council, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Live data – Saltwater Creek | Cairns Regional Council, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Management of Ranger Uranium Mine Waters, Kakadu Region, Northern Territory, Australia, accessed July 21, 2025,

Management of Ranger Uranium Mine Waters, Kakadu Region, Northern Territory, Australia, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Management of Ranger Uranium Mine Waters, Kakadu Region, Northern Territory, Australia, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025,

Monitoring - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Monitoring - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of papers.acg.uwa.edu.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

papers.acg.uwa.edu.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

papers.acg.uwa.edu.au

Preview of Publications - International Erosion Control Association, accessed August 1, 2025,

Publications - International Erosion Control Association, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (BPESC) document

Preview of Queensland Reef Water Quality Program | Environment, land and water, accessed August 3, 2025,

Queensland Reef Water Quality Program | Environment, land and water, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Queensland Reef Water Quality Program | Environment, land and water, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Refining water quality objectives and monitoring in the wet tropics using a community based approach - CORE, accessed July 21, 2025,

Refining water quality objectives and monitoring in the wet tropics using a community based approach - CORE, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

Barron River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality ..., accessed July 21, 2025

Preview of Turbidity in Surface Water — Rehabilitation Standard for the Ranger uranium mine - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025,

Turbidity in Surface Water — Rehabilitation Standard for the Ranger uranium mine - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support

Turbidity in Surface Water — Rehabilitation Standard for the Ranger uranium mine - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

Preview of Uranium and Manganese in Surface Water — Rehabilitation Standard for the Ranger uranium mine, accessed July 21, 2025,

Uranium and Manganese in Surface Water — Rehabilitation Standard for the Ranger uranium mine, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Uranium and Manganese in Surface Water — Rehabilitation Standard for the Ranger uranium mine, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Reference-site data - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Water quality - Gladstone Ports Corporation, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality - Gladstone Ports Corporation, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality - Gladstone Ports Corporation, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Water quality - NET, accessed July 21, 2025,

Water quality - NET, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water quality - NET, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)

Preview of Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 3, 2025,

Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 3, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PubMed Central

Preview of Water quality responses for post 2019-20 bushfires floods in south eastern Australia: a catchment scale analysis. - Synthesis Report - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,

Water quality responses for post 2019-20 bushfires floods in south eastern Australia: a catchment scale analysis. - Synthesis Report - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality responses for post 2019-20 bushfires floods in south eastern Australia: a catchment scale analysis. - Synthesis Report - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Waterhouse, J. (2010) Thresholds of major pollutants with regard to ..., accessed July 22, 2025

Waterhouse, J. (2010) Thresholds of major pollutants with regard to ..., accessed July 22, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Waterhouse, J. (2010) Thresholds of major pollutants with regard to impacts on instream and marine ecosystems, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Wet Tropics basins - Queensland Environment Department, accessed July 21, 2025,

Wet Tropics basins - Queensland Environment Department, accessed July 21, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Barron River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality ..., accessed July 30, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

This level is identified as a significant ecological tipping point for aquatic macroinvertebrates. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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