Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-LVG-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 10 to 25 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 10 to 25

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

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

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Considering these figures, a suitable benchmark range is proposed as < 30 µS/cm. An ideal target within this range, reflecting the mean conditions observed in high-quality, minimally disturbed reference streams, would be approximately 10-25 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) in surface waters of Australian alpine and subalpine complexes under livestock grazing management.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the ideal range of water electrical conductivity (EC) in Australian alpine and subalpine streams under livestock grazing, reflecting natural low salinity conditions typical of minimally disturbed reference streams.

Justification:

The benchmark is justified by observed EC values in minimally impacted alpine streams and relevant water quality guidelines indicating that best-practice grazing should maintain EC within this natural low range.

Sources (3)

Preview of (PDF) The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

(PDF) The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

Shenton, W., et al. (2021). The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas. Environmental Pollution, 271, 116322

View Source

Preview of An index of stream condition: reference manual - Water and catchments

An index of stream condition: reference manual - Water and catchments Journal

ANZECC & ARMCANZ. (2000). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Volume 1: The Guidelines

View Source

Preview of Ladson, A.R., et al. (1999). An Index of Stream Condition: Reference Manual (Second Edition). Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria.

Ladson, A.R., et al. (1999). An Index of Stream Condition: Reference Manual (Second Edition). Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria.

Ladson, A.R., et al. (1999). An Index of Stream Condition: Reference Manual (Second Edition). Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria.

View Source

Supporting Sources (10)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Northern Territory Government (2020) Darwin Harbour Region Water Quality Objectives, Report Card Section 3.0.

View Source

Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) Report 2015-16

Direct Evidence Journal

Waterwatch (2016). Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) Report 2015-16.

View Source

Preview of Full article: Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 28, 2025

Full article: Impacts of Road Disturbance on Soil Properties and on Exotic Plant Occurrence in Subalpine Areas of the Australian Alps - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

www.nrc.nsw.gov.au, accessed on May 27, 2025

View Source

Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 Technical Report - Water and ..., accessed August 12, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 Technical Report

View Source

Water for livestock: interpreting water quality tests (NSW DPI)

Direct Evidence Journal

NSW Department of Primary Industries (2024). Water for livestock: interpreting water quality tests.

View Source

Water quality for farm water supplies | Managing dams - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Regenerative Agriculture and Livestock Integration on Australian Cattle Farms

View Source

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

Contextual Support Government

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

View Source

Water Quality of Rivers in the Inglis – Flowerdale Catchment - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Direct Evidence Journal

Derwent Estuary Program (2011). Derwent Catchment Review Part 1.

View Source

Water-Quality-Salinity-Standards.pdf, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ..., accessed July 21, 2025

View Source

Williams, W. D. (2005). Chemical composition of some inland surface waters and lake deposits of New South Wales, Australia.

Direct Evidence Journal

Williams, W. D. (2005). Chemical composition of some inland surface waters and lake deposits of New South Wales, Australia.

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

The benchmark reflects the natural low EC typical of pristine alpine waters, with an ideal target range of 10-25 µS/cm and an upper limit of <30 µS/cm to indicate minimal anthropogenic impact. Higher EC values indicate potential degradation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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