Water Nitrate

AUS-TSR-URB-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0 to 0.015 mg/L

Optimal Range: 0 to 0.015

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. The scoring engine uses 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Optimal Range: The optimal range for ecological health is synonymous with the natural, unpolluted state. Therefore, the optimal range is considered to be any concentration up to the derived benchmark of < 0.015 mg/L.

Metric Definition:

Optimal nitrate concentration range for ecological health in tropical streams.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal nitrate concentration range for ecological health in tropical streams, representing the natural, unpolluted state up to 0.015 mg/L.

Justification:

Represents the natural, unpolluted state up to the 80th percentile of reference conditions. Best practice management aims to keep concentrations as low as possible.

Sources (3)

Black ross (townsville) - water Quality improvement plan Journal

Black ross (townsville) - water Quality improvement plan

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Land-use effects on water quality in an intensively managed catchment in the Australian humid tropics | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025, Journal

Land-use effects on water quality in an intensively managed ...

View Source

Townsville basins - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 2, 2025,

Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 - Schedule 1 (referencing WQOs for Black River Basin)

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Rejected
Version 1
Effective From 3 Jun 2026
Effective To 3 Jun 2026

Notes

The optimal range is considered to be any concentration up to the derived benchmark of < 0.015 mg/L, reflecting the natural background state. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one. Pipeline correction 2026-06-03c: Rejected — Rule C violation (OptimalRange sentinel-zero). Correct form MaximumOnly(0.015 mg/L). ID 1416 already captures 0.015 mg/L as MaximumOnly+UpperGuard. Exact duplicate concept.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-URB-WNI family.