Water Nitrate

AUS-TGP-IND-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.4 mg/L

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

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 11 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 10 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

Therefore, a reference value of 0.4 mg/L for Nitrate (as NO₃) is proposed as the benchmark for high environmental health in water bodies within industrial landscapes of the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome.

Metric Definition:

Concentration of nitrate (NO₃) in water indicating high environmental health in industrial landscapes within the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the nitrate concentration in water that indicates high environmental health in industrial landscapes of the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome. It is based on expert derivation aligned with national water quality frameworks.

Justification:

This benchmark is expertly derived from the national water quality framework, as no direct field measurements for this specific context exist. It represents a state of high ecological health achievable under best-practice industrial management. The value is based on the ANZECC (2000) default trigger value for Total Nitrogen (TN) of 0.5 mg/L for lowland rivers in SE Australia, which applies to 'slightly-moderately disturbed systems'. This TN value is set to be protective against the primary risk of eutrophication. A benchmark of 0.4 mg/L for nitrate (as NO3) sits conservatively within this overall nitrogen budget and is considered achievable with modern industrial best practices.

Sources (2)

Preview of Case study: Helping our customers reduce their environmental and social impacts - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Case study: Helping our customers reduce their environmental and social impacts - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025, Journal

Orica's and De Beers collaboration results in a 78.85% decrease in nitrate concentrations

Preview of Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025 Government

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

Supporting Sources (33)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025

5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Determining safe levels of ammonia and nitrite for shrimp culture - Global Seafood Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025

A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Manning, A. D., Cunningham, R. B., Tongway, D., & Lindenmayer, D. B. (2020). Woodlands and woody debris: Understanding structure and composition to inform restoration. PLoS ONE, 15(3), e0224258.

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

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government

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Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water - Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 25, 2025

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Categories - Water quality - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Data Home, accessed July 25, 2025

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

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Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Establishment of reference conditions and trigger values for chemical, physical and micro-biological indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Establishment of reference conditions and trigger values for chemical, physical and micro-biological indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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

Preview of Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Is there a close association between 'soils' and 'vegetation'? A case study from central western New South Wales, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

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Introduction of Industry Best Practices & Technical Solutions to Reduce Nitrates in Groundwater. - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Introduction of Industry Best Practices & Technical Solutions to Reduce Nitrates in Groundwater. - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025

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.

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

Preview of Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025

Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZG 2018)

Preview of Nitrate and nitrite in Drinking-water - World Health Organization (WHO), accessed August 11, 2025,

Nitrate and nitrite in Drinking-water - World Health Organization (WHO), accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate and nitrite in Drinking-water - World Health Organization (WHO), accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Nitrate toxicity to aquatic animals: a review with new data for freshwater invertebrates - State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 11, 2025,

Nitrate toxicity to aquatic animals: a review with new data for freshwater invertebrates - State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate toxicity to aquatic animals: a review with new data for freshwater invertebrates - State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Nitrate Water Quality Guidelines, accessed August 5, 2025

Nitrate Water Quality Guidelines, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting aquatic ecosystems

Preview of Orica's and De Beers collaboration results in a 78.85% decrease in nitrate concentrations

Orica's and De Beers collaboration results in a 78.85% decrease in nitrate concentrations

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Orica's and De Beers collaboration results in a 78.85% decrease in nitrate concentrations, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025,

Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish - PMC, accessed July 13, 2025,

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TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW

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Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting aquatic ecosystems

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Understanding links between water-quality variables and nitrate concentration in freshwater streams using high frequency sensor data - PubMed Central, accessed August 11, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Understanding links between water-quality variables and nitrate concentration in freshwater streams using high frequency sensor data - PubMed Central, accessed July 13, 2025,

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Contextual Support Journal

australian and 4 new zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality 2000 - EPA SA, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Water quality - Dataset - SEED - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality - Dataset - SEED - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality - Dataset - SEED - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Drivers of water quality in Afromontane-savanna rivers - Frontiers

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

Contextual Support Government

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

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

Contextual Support Government

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

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Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Preview of WaterInsights - WaterNSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

WaterInsights - WaterNSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

WaterInsights - WaterNSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 2 Jun 2026

Notes

The benchmark is set to prevent the onset of eutrophication and is well below the chronic toxicity threshold for sensitive aquatic fauna, providing a safety factor of four against direct toxic effects. The optimal range for high ecosystem health is from natural background concentrations (approaching 0.1 mg/L) up to the benchmark of 0.4 mg/L. Concentrations consistently exceeding this benchmark indicate a potential risk to ecosystem health, triggering the need for management investigation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-IND-WNI family.