Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-URB-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1500 µS/cm

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

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 10 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 9 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The evidence strongly points to an upper detrimental threshold of approximately 1,500 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Electrical Conductivity (EC) level at which significant adverse ecological effects begin on freshwater biota

Benchmark Definition:

Threshold EC level beyond which widespread harm to freshwater biota occurs.

Justification:

Supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies identifying 1,500 µS/cm as a critical salinity threshold for adverse biological effects.

Sources (1)

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Naracoorte Creek, Naracoorte 2014 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition ...

Irrelevant

Naracoorte Creek, Naracoorte 2014 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition ...

View Source

Salinity - MurrayDarling Basin Authority

Contextual Support Journal

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

Total dissolved solids | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 4 Jun 2026
Effective To 4 Jun 2026

Notes

This threshold is supported by ecological tolerance literature and aligns with observed degradation in the Naracoorte Creek case study. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-URB-WEC family.