Water Turbidity

AUS-TGP-AGR-WTU General Moderate 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

Turbidity levels in farm water supplies should be kept below 5 NTU to avoid the formation of sludge and clogging of pipes, tanks, and micro-irrigation systems.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity as a measure of water clarity relevant to farm water supply operational standards.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents an operational target for turbidity in farm water supplies to prevent infrastructure issues in agricultural settings.

Justification:

This operational standard demonstrates that very clear water is achievable and desirable for practical reasons on farms.

Sources (1)

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, Government

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

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Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Revegetation of water supply catchments following bushfire: A review of the scientific literature relevant to the Lower Cotter catchment - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) Revegetation of water supply catchments following bushfire: A review of the scientific literature relevant to the Lower Cotter catchment - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU

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1.1.5.2 Surface water quality - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

The Turbidity Effect on Aquatic Life - Number Analytics, accessed July 12, 2025

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A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library

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ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Contextual Support Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

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Australia's Agricultural Future - Australian Council of Learned Academies, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Agricultural Future - Australian Council of Learned Academies, accessed August 5, 2025

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Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

tuvalu-data.sprep.org

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

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

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Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Turbidity | Australia state of the environment 2021

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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

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Cover Crops and Water Quality - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Cover Crops and Water Quality - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025

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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

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Environmental problems in Australia | WWF - Panda.org, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Water quality - Healthy Waterways Strategy, accessed August 5, 2025

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Guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 10, 2025

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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

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Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (2006). Woodland Remnants and Dryland Salinity: Impacts of dryland salinity on woodland remnants in the Southern Tablelands and South-West Slopes of New South Wales.

View Source

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern ... - DCCEEW

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

Contextual Support Journal

papers.acg.uwa.edu.au

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Regenerative Agriculture Case Studies - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia's Agricultural Future - Australian Council of Learned Academies, accessed August 5, 2025

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Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

River Health 2021 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Assessing Water Quality - Secondary Education Years 9 to 12, accessed August 5, 2025

View Source

Riverine Ecosystem Management: Science for Governing Towards a Sustainable Future - SciSpace, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 5, 2025

View Source

Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,

The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW

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