Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-AQU-WEC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 30 to 80 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 30 to 80

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Tier 2 (Low Ecological Risk): 30–80 00μS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Water electrical conductivity (EC)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of water electrical conductivity (EC) indicating low ecological risk in alpine aquatic environments, serving as an early warning of departure from pristine conditions.

Justification:

Upper limit informed by recovering regulated river conditions (e.g., Snowy River post-EFR).

Sources (6)

Preview of (PDF) Climate change impacts on Australia's alpine ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025,

(PDF) Climate change impacts on Australia's alpine ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025, GreyLiterature

(PDF) Climate change impacts on Australia's alpine ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025

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

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

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government

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Macroinvertebrate Responses to Conductivity in Different Bioregions of Victoria, Australia Journal

Macroinvertebrate Responses to Conductivity in Different Bioregions of Victoria, Australia

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National Recovery Plan for the Barred Galaxias - Galaxias fuscus - DCCEEW Journal

National Recovery Plan for the Barred Galaxias - Galaxias fuscus - DCCEEW

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The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and ...

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and ...

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www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

The Australian Alps Bioregion - Environment and Heritage, accessed on May 27, 2025,

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Aquaculture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 2 Jun 2026

Notes

Indicates a detectable departure from baseline, serving as an early warning threshold. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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