Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TDG-LVG-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1500 µS/cm

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

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

Multiple lines of evidence indicate that freshwater aquatic ecosystem health begins to be compromised as EC levels rise above approximately 1500 µS/cm, with the ANZECC upper trigger value of 2200 µS/cm (for lowland rivers) representing a key boundary for potential risk.

Metric Definition:

Upper Detrimental Threshold

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the upper detrimental threshold for Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) in water under sustainable livestock grazing in Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands, above which aquatic ecosystem health is likely compromised.

Justification:

Levels associated with biodiversity decline, stress on sensitive species, indicating degraded conditions.

Sources (1)

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025 Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in ... - ACT Government, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived ...

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

Freshwater aquatic ecosystem health begins to be compromised as EC levels rise above approximately 1500 µS/cm, with the ANZECC upper trigger value of 2200 µS/cm representing a key boundary for potential risk. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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