Water Nitrate — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

0.04 mg/L

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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The proposed benchmark for water nitrate, representing the best available condition under production forestry, is the median antecedent value observed in the south-eastern Australian Pinus radiata plantation study.1 Reference Value: 0.04 mg/L (as Nitrate-N)

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration as Nitrate-N in stream water

Benchmark Definition:

Median antecedent nitrate-N concentration from a well-studied Australian Pinus radiata plantation catchment, representing best practice water quality under production forestry in the arid mountain biome.

Justification:

Derived from a managed production forest catchment in Australia, representing best practice and minimal anthropogenic impact; used due to absence of direct data for the arid biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of Long-term changes in water quality and solute exports in headwater ...

Long-term changes in water quality and solute exports in headwater ... Journal

Long-term changes in water quality and solute exports in headwater ..., accessed July 31, 2025,

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A review of water quality studies relevant to northern Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,

A review of water quality studies relevant to northern Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Salinity and water quality

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Governments (ANZG). (2018). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Canberra ACT, Australia. 32

Australian and New Zealand Governments (ANZG). (2018). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Canberra ACT, Australia. 32

Regulatory Framework Journal

Environmental Values, Water Quality Objectives and Targets for the Black Ross Water Quality Improvement Plan Appendices December - Creek to Coral, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Climate and river health | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

Climate and river health | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

Contextual Support Government

The Ecological and Hydrological Significance of Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams in the Arid and Semi-arid American Southwest - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Ecological condition of central Australian arid-zone rivers - PubMed, accessed July 21, 2025

Ecological condition of central Australian arid-zone rivers - PubMed, accessed July 21, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Ecological condition of central Australian arid-zone rivers - PubMed

Preview of Environmental Values, Water Quality Objectives and Targets for the Black Ross Water Quality Improvement Plan Appendices December - Creek to Coral, accessed May 11, 2025,

Environmental Values, Water Quality Objectives and Targets for the Black Ross Water Quality Improvement Plan Appendices December - Creek to Coral, accessed May 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Water quality for livestock

Preview of Full article: Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in New Zealand groundwaters - Taylor & Francis Online

Full article: Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in New Zealand groundwaters - Taylor & Francis Online

Direct Evidence Journal

Full article: Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in New Zealand groundwaters - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Issue 2: Water is polluted in urban, farming, and forestry areas | Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 31, 2025,

Issue 2: Water is polluted in urban, farming, and forestry areas | Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 31, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Issue 2: Water is polluted in urban, farming, and forestry areas | Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Leaching of nitrate from temperate forests – effects of air pollution and forest management, accessed July 31, 2025,

Leaching of nitrate from temperate forests – effects of air pollution and forest management, accessed July 31, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Leaching of nitrate from temperate forests – effects of air pollution and forest management, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Looking to improve water quality? Plant more trees, accessed August 1, 2025,

Looking to improve water quality? Plant more trees, accessed August 1, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Stream nitrate in planted forests - Scion Research, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Natural water systems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 16, 2025,

Natural water systems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of Natural water systems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 31, 2025,

Natural water systems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 31, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Natural water systems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025

Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025

Regulatory Framework Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZG 2018)

Preview of Quantifying Health in Ephemeral Rivers - eWater, accessed July 20, 2025,

Quantifying Health in Ephemeral Rivers - eWater, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Quantifying Health in Ephemeral Rivers - eWater

Preview of Removal of nitrates from groundwater in remote indigenous settings in arid Central Australia - OPUS at UTS, accessed July 25, 2025,

Removal of nitrates from groundwater in remote indigenous settings in arid Central Australia - OPUS at UTS, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

NITRATE IN GROUNDWATER | Water Research Commission, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025

River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025

Preview of The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW

Preview of Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed July 31, 2025,

Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed July 31, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Influence of Forest Harvest on Nitrate Concentration in Temperate Streams—A Meta-Analysis - MDPI, accessed July 31, 2025,

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

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

Regulatory Framework Government

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

Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,

Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Seasonal changes in water quality and macrophytes and the ...

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 4 Jun 2026

Notes

This value represents the best-on-offer baseline state prior to intensive treatment. The arid context suggests natural background levels may be higher and more variable. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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