Water Nitrate

AUS-AMR-AQU-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1 mg/L

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 Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark representing high ecological integrity is <1.0 mg/L NO3−. This value is derived from the condition of healthy reference sites in the Flinders Ranges and is set to prevent the "nutrient enrichment" that characterizes ecologically degraded systems.

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration in the receiving environment of aquaculture operations in the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the maximum nitrate concentration in aquaculture receiving waters to maintain high ecological integrity and prevent nutrient enrichment in the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome.

Justification:

Derived from proxy data of healthy aquatic ecosystems in the Flinders Ranges, supported by ecological assessments and quantitative nitrate measurements.

Sources (2)

(PDF) Water quality parameters and population characteristics for the Flinders Ranges Gudgeon - ResearchGate

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

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Preview of SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic ..., accessed July 30, 2025,

SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic ..., accessed July 30, 2025, Government

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ...

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Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Establishment of reference conditions and trigger values for chemical, physical and micro-biological indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Establishment of reference conditions and trigger values for chemical, physical and micro-biological indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

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

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Aquaculture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Superseded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

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are harmful and indicate nutrient enrichment. The benchmark is a proxy due to lack of direct data for aquaculture in this biome. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-AQU-WNI family.