Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-URB-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1100 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 degraded Naracoorte Creek within this region provides an "anti-benchmark," demonstrating that EC levels exceeding 1,100 µS/cm are associated with a "Poor" ecological state.

Metric Definition:

Electrical Conductivity (EC) level associated with poor ecological condition in urban karstic aquatic system

Benchmark Definition:

EC level above which ecological degradation is observed in a karstic urban stream.

Justification:

Empirical data from a government environmental agency's assessment of Naracoorte Creek.

Sources (1)

Naracoorte Creek, Naracoorte 2014 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition ...

Naracoorte Creek, Naracoorte 2014 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition ...

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

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

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 Active
Version 2
Effective From 4 Jun 2026

Notes

This value serves as a practical upper boundary for degraded conditions in the biome proxy. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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