Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-IND-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

350 µS/cm

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

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 MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Exceeding the upper trigger value of 350 µS/cm indicates a potential for harmful environmental effects to occur, necessitating further site-specific investigation.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold for electrical conductivity (EC) in upland rivers of southeastern Australia

Benchmark Definition:

This is the upper electrical conductivity threshold beyond which ecological integrity is compromised in alpine aquatic ecosystems.

Justification:

This threshold is supported by both biological field data showing significant negative impacts on macroinvertebrate communities and regulatory guidelines from ANZECC 2000.

Sources (1)

Preview of Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025

Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025 Government

(PDF) Impact of mitigated forestry activities on turbidity: assessing ...

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

(PDF) The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Shenton, W., et al. (2021). The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas. Environmental Pollution, 271, 116322

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

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

Preview of 5.9 Conductivity | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 11, 2025,

5.9 Conductivity | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

archive.epa.gov

Preview of A review of the impacts of pumped hydro energy storage construction on subalpine and alpine biodiversity - ANU Open Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

A review of the impacts of pumped hydro energy storage construction on subalpine and alpine biodiversity - ANU Open Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support

Snowy 2.0 - Main Works | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment

Preview of Assessment of Impacts of Coal Mining in the Region of Sydney, Australia on the Aquatic Environment Using Macroinvertebrates and Chlorophyll as Indicators, accessed August 17, 2025,

Assessment of Impacts of Coal Mining in the Region of Sydney, Australia on the Aquatic Environment Using Macroinvertebrates and Chlorophyll as Indicators, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessment of Impacts of Coal Mining in the Region of Sydney, Australia on the Aquatic Environment Using Macroinvertebrates and Chlorophyll as Indicators, accessed July 13, 2025,

Preview of Assessment of the Impact of Coal Mining on Water Resources in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Using Different Water Quality Indices - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Assessment of the Impact of Coal Mining on Water Resources in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Using Different Water Quality Indices - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessment of the Impact of Coal Mining on Water Resources in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Using Different Water Quality Indices - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Assessment of the Values of Kosciuszko National Park (Chapter 8), accessed August 17, 2025,

Assessment of the Values of Kosciuszko National Park (Chapter 8), accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

eDNA Is a Useful Environmental Monitoring Tool for Assessing Stream Ecological Health, accessed August 17, 2025

Preview of Ecosystems and biodiversity – Climate Adaptation - CSIRO Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

Ecosystems and biodiversity – Climate Adaptation - CSIRO Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

The 10 Australian ecosystems most vulnerable to tipping points - ResearchGate

Preview of Full article: Monitoring and assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water of selected rivers - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 17, 2025,

Full article: Monitoring and assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water of selected rivers - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support

Full article: Monitoring and assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water of selected rivers - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Impact of Construction and Functioning of a Newly Built Ski Slope on the Quality of Nearby Stream Water - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Impact of Construction and Functioning of a Newly Built Ski Slope on the Quality of Nearby Stream Water - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impact of Construction and Functioning of a Newly Built Ski Slope on the Quality of Nearby Stream Water - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Management of major ions in freshwater ecosystems: thresholds of impact and indicators of change - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 17, 2025,

Management of major ions in freshwater ecosystems: thresholds of impact and indicators of change - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Comparison of two commonly used methods for identifying water ..., accessed August 8, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring and reporting - WaterNSW, accessed August 17, 2025,

Monitoring and reporting - WaterNSW, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Monitoring and reporting - WaterNSW, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

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

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

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW

Preview of pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, accessed August 17, 2025, )%20of%202016%20to%202018.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, accessed August 17, 2025, )%20of%202016%20to%202018.

Contextual Support Journal

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, accessed August 17, 2025, )%20of%202016%20to%202018.

Preview of Review of water quality studies in the Australian Alps, accessed August 17, 2025,

Review of water quality studies in the Australian Alps, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessment of the Values of Kosciuszko National Park (Chapter 8)

Preview of The ecological effects of new roads-a literature review - Department of Conservation, accessed August 17, 2025,

The ecological effects of new roads-a literature review - Department of Conservation, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The ecological effects of new roads-a literature review - Department of Conservation, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and ..., accessed August 17, 2025,

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and ..., accessed August 17, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas, accessed on May 29, 2025

Preview of The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - University of Canberra Research Portal

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - University of Canberra Research Portal

Contextual Support Journal

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - University of Canberra Research Portal

Preview of water catchment - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 17, 2025,

water catchment - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

soils - of the australian alps - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 3, 2025

Preview of Water Chemistry and Aquatic Ecology study on the effects of waste water discharges from Springvale and Angus Place Collieries on - Environmental Justice Australia, accessed August 17, 2025,

Water Chemistry and Aquatic Ecology study on the effects of waste water discharges from Springvale and Angus Place Collieries on - Environmental Justice Australia, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water Chemistry and Aquatic Ecology study on the effects of waste water discharges from Springvale and Angus Place Collieries on - Environmental Justice Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Water-Quality-Salinity-Standards.pdf, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water-Quality-Salinity-Standards.pdf, accessed August 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ..., accessed July 21, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 2
Effective From 1 Jun 2026
Effective To 1 Jun 2026

Notes

This value represents the upper boundary of ecological safety; EC levels exceeding this are associated with significant degradation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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