Water Nitrate — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

1.1 mg N-NO₃⁻/L

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, 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.

Evidence & Context

Specifically, this threshold is 1.1 mg NO₃⁻-N/L for soft water conditions (<30 mg/L CaCO₃) and 2.6 mg NO₃⁻-N/L for moderately hard water conditions (30–150 mg/L CaCO₃).

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold for water nitrate concentration indicating ecological harm.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper detrimental threshold for nitrate concentration in soft water conditions in the Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas biome.

Justification:

Based on the ANZG 2024 Default Guideline Values for 95% species protection in soft water conditions typical of Tropical Monsoonal Savannas.

Sources (1)

Preview of Environmental impacts of nitrate pollution - Aquamonitrix, accessed July 24, 2025,

Environmental impacts of nitrate pollution - Aquamonitrix, accessed July 24, 2025, GreyLiterature

ANZG, 2024. Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection: Nitrate in freshwater

Supporting Sources (16)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of "Water quality monitoring in Cape York Streams June to August 2021" (QLD DES 2021)

"Water quality monitoring in Cape York Streams June to August 2021" (QLD DES 2021)

Direct Evidence Journal

environment.desi.qld.gov.au

Preview of (PDF) Nitrate in groundwaters of intensive agricultural areas in coastal Northeastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

(PDF) Nitrate in groundwaters of intensive agricultural areas in coastal Northeastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nitrate in groundwaters of intensive agricultural areas in coastal Northeastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 11, 2025,

Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Williams RJ, Duff GA, Bowman DMJS, Cook GD. Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes. In: David Keith, editor/s. Australian vegetation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2017. 368-388.

Preview of Australian Savanna Biome, accessed May 17, 2025,

Australian Savanna Biome, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Tropical Savannas of Northern Australia - Charles Darwin University, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Cape York eastern basins - Queensland Environment Department, accessed May 11, 2025,

Cape York eastern basins - Queensland Environment Department, accessed May 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Cape York eastern basins - Queensland Environment Department, accessed May 11, 2025,

Preview of Does rapid utilization of elevated nutrient availability allow eucalypts to dominate in the tropical savannas of Australia? - PubMed Central, accessed May 11, 2025,

Does rapid utilization of elevated nutrient availability allow eucalypts to dominate in the tropical savannas of Australia? - PubMed Central, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

General soil fertility guides and commercial forestry studies

Preview of environment.des.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

environment.des.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Howley, C., Turner, R., Darr, A., & Grimes, A. (2021). Water quality monitoring in Cape York Streams: June to August 2021. Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

Preview of environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

Preview of Food, Climate & Regenerative Farming FAQ - The Nature Conservancy, accessed May 11, 2025,

Food, Climate & Regenerative Farming FAQ - The Nature Conservancy, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support

Scaling Regenerative Agriculture in Tropical Regions - Rainforest Alliance, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Hardness (as calcium carbonate) | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed May 11, 2025,

Hardness (as calcium carbonate) | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed May 11, 2025,

Irrelevant Government

Hardness (as calcium carbonate) | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed May 11, 2025,

Preview of The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices, accessed August 5, 2025

The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

DRINKING WATER QUALITY ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023 - Alpine Resorts Victoria

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

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

Regulatory Framework Journal

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

Preview of Tropical savanna climate (Aw) | SKYbrary Aviation Safety, accessed May 11, 2025,

Tropical savanna climate (Aw) | SKYbrary Aviation Safety, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Tropical savanna climate (Aw) | SKYbrary Aviation Safety, accessed May 11, 2025,

Preview of Water hardness - Tamworth Regional Council, accessed May 11, 2025,

Water hardness - Tamworth Regional Council, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water hardness - Tamworth Regional Council, accessed May 11, 2025,

Preview of www.detsi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

www.detsi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.detsi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,

Preview of www.rrrc.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

www.rrrc.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Sediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams: changes with agricultural development and pristine condition status (Technical Report No. 62, Australian Rainforest CRC, 2006)

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 2 Jun 2026

Notes

Exceeding this value indicates increased risk of ecological impairment and departure from high environmental health. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-AGR-WNI family.