Water Nitrate

AUS-TGP-URB-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2.6 mg/L

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MinimumOnly

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

A 'Degraded' state is defined as any concentration > 2.6 mg/L, indicating significant and persistent ecological harm.

Metric Definition:

Nitrate concentration threshold indicating severe ecological degradation.

Benchmark Definition:

Severe degradation nitrate concentration threshold.

Justification:

Based on CHIP reports linking nitrate levels above this value to major ecological harm.

Sources (1)

Preview of Catchment Health Indicator Program Report 2021 - Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch, accessed August 12, 2025,

Catchment Health Indicator Program Report 2021 - Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch, accessed August 12, 2025, Journal

ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) Guidelines

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Current understanding of the eutrophication process in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

Regulatory Framework GreyLiterature

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

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Indicates a severely degraded system requiring major intervention. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one. Pipeline correction 2026-06-03c: Rejected — erroneous BenchmarkForm (MinimumOnly+LowerGuard on WNI HigherIsDesirable=0; harm fires when concentration EXCEEDS 2.6 mg/L, not drops below). Correct form MaximumOnly+UpperGuard. MaximumOnly slot occupied by ID 1422 (0.444 mg/L). Requires StratificationKey (e.g., 'severe-degradation-2.6mgL') to coexist. Requeue document with prompt v3.7.

Related Benchmarks

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