Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-AQU-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

24000 μS/cm

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

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

Evidence & Context

The benchmark value of ~24,000 ³BCS/cm is derived from operational data at the Wakerie, South Australia inland saline aquaculture site (16.0 ppt salinity), as documented in a 2011 review.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) as a measure of total dissolved salts in water used for inland saline aquaculture.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the typical water electrical conductivity level used in sustainable inland saline aquaculture systems in Australia's Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands, reflecting a managed ecosystem optimized for biological and economic viability.

Justification:

The benchmark is based on real-world operational data from best-practice inland saline aquaculture sites, particularly the Wakerie site, representing a viability midpoint balancing biological, economic, and environmental factors.

Sources (1)

Preview of (PDF) Inland saline aquaculture - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

(PDF) Inland saline aquaculture - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025, GreyLiterature

(PDF) Inland saline aquaculture - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

Preview of Aquaculture - Government of Western Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Aquaculture - Government of Western Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water Quality in Inland Saline Aquaculture Ponds and its Relationships to Shrimp - Auburn University, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Aquaculture in desert and arid lands: development constraints and opportunities. - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Aquaculture in desert and arid lands: development constraints and opportunities. - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Contextual Support Journal

Aquaculture in desert and arid lands: development constraints and opportunities. - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Australia - Brackish Water Aquaculture, accessed July 20, 2025,

Australia - Brackish Water Aquaculture, accessed July 20, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic ...

Preview of Australia's Aquaculture industry - DAFF, accessed August 17, 2025,

Australia's Aquaculture industry - DAFF, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australian fisheries and aquaculture outlook 2024 - DAFF

Preview of Australia's Aquaculture industry - DAFF, accessed July 25, 2025,

Australia's Aquaculture industry - DAFF, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Pond water quality and its relation to fish yield and disease occurrence in small-scale aquaculture in arid areas - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

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

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.

Preview of Barramundi - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,

Barramundi - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Real time monitoring of water quality and mechanisation of pond management to boost productivity and increase profit in Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Barramundi aquaculture | Business Queensland

Barramundi aquaculture | Business Queensland

Contextual Support Government

Barramundi aquaculture | Business Queensland, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Best Management Practices to Use on Karst and Silurian Soil - Crops and Soils, accessed July 23, 2025,

Best Management Practices to Use on Karst and Silurian Soil - Crops and Soils, accessed July 23, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australian Soil: Definition, Classification, Types and Quality - Access EP, accessed July 16, 2025,

Preview of CSIRO introduces pompano to Australian aquaculture to boost economy - Responsible Seafood Advocate, accessed July 25, 2025,

CSIRO introduces pompano to Australian aquaculture to boost economy - Responsible Seafood Advocate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

CSIRO introduces pompano to Australian aquaculture to boost economy - Responsible Seafood Advocate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of CSIRO works with aquaculture industry on new white fish variety - Food & Drink Business, accessed July 25, 2025,

CSIRO works with aquaculture industry on new white fish variety - Food & Drink Business, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

CSIRO works with aquaculture industry on new white fish variety - Food & Drink Business, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Dryland salinity in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food, accessed July 25, 2025,

Dryland salinity in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Dryland salinity in Western Australia | Agriculture and Food, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of Effect of water salinity and dietary supplementation with Microchloropsis gaditana on growth, health, quality and microbiota of Barramundi Lates calcarifer. - Open Research Europe, accessed July 25, 2025,

Effect of water salinity and dietary supplementation with Microchloropsis gaditana on growth, health, quality and microbiota of Barramundi Lates calcarifer. - Open Research Europe, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effect of water salinity and dietary supplementation with Microchloropsis gaditana on growth, health, quality and microbiota of Barramundi Lates calcarifer. - Open Research Europe, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Growth performance, survival rate and economic efficiency of barramundi cultured in HDPE-lined ponds with high densities - Bioflux

Growth performance, survival rate and economic efficiency of barramundi cultured in HDPE-lined ponds with high densities - Bioflux

Contextual Support Journal

Inland Aquaculture | EPA SA, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Improving water and sediment quality guidelines - CSIRO, accessed July 25, 2025,

Improving water and sediment quality guidelines - CSIRO, accessed July 25, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Improving water and sediment quality guidelines - CSIRO, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Inland Saline Aquaculture | FRDC, accessed July 20, 2025,

Inland Saline Aquaculture | FRDC, accessed July 20, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Inland Saline Aquaculture | FRDC, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Inland saline area shrimp and finfish farms | CABI Compendium, accessed July 25, 2025,

Inland saline area shrimp and finfish farms | CABI Compendium, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Desert aquaculture & environmental sustainability - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Integrated Agri-Aquaculture Systems, accessed July 25, 2025,

Integrated Agri-Aquaculture Systems, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

INTEGRATION OF AQUACULTURE AND ARID LANDS AGRICULTURE FOR WATER REUSE AND REDUCED FERTILIZER DEPENDENCY - Cambridge University Press, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025

Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support

Working Draft - Grower Group Alliance

Preview of Managing Aquaculture to Protect Water Quality | US EPA, accessed July 25, 2025,

Managing Aquaculture to Protect Water Quality | US EPA, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia – Brackish Water Aquaculture

Preview of National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,

National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW

Preview of NSW Land Based Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy, accessed July 25, 2025,

NSW Land Based Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

NSW Land Based Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

Preview of Research paper Inland Saline Aquaculture 64 A hope for farmers Shashank Singh1*, Iffat Jahan2, Adita Sharma1 and Vipin Kumar Mi - ijgsr, accessed July 25, 2025,

Research paper Inland Saline Aquaculture 64 A hope for farmers Shashank Singh1*, Iffat Jahan2, Adita Sharma1 and Vipin Kumar Mi - ijgsr, accessed July 25, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Research paper Inland Saline Aquaculture 64 A hope for farmers Shashank Singh1*, Iffat Jahan2, Adita Sharma1 and Vipin Kumar Mi - ijgsr, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Rethinking the Land: The Development of Inland Saline Aquaculture in Western Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Rethinking the Land: The Development of Inland Saline Aquaculture in Western Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Saline Discharges into Natural Wetlands in Western Australia - DBCA Library, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of The arid Australian environment - Australian Wildlife Society, accessed July 23, 2025

The arid Australian environment - Australian Wildlife Society, accessed July 23, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Barkly Karst Region (Qld & NT), accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Aquaculture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 4 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 5000 μS/cm. Optimal range: 15000 to 30000 μS/cm. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 45000 μS/cm. The benchmark reflects a deliberately engineered and managed ecosystem, not a natural state. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.