Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMI-IND-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 150 to 800 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 150 to 800

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Synthesizing these points, the proposed optimal range for maintaining high ecological health and function in freshwater systems on Australia's tropical and subtropical maritime islands is 150 – 800 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Optimal range of surface water electrical conductivity (EC) for maintaining high ecological health and function.

Benchmark Definition:

Optimal functional range of EC for ecosystem health based on fisheries health data and ANZECC guidelines.

Justification:

Based on synthesis of national guidelines, international literature, and empirical data from Norfolk Island study.

Sources (2)

(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

Preview of Norfolk Island water quality assessment. A report from the CSIRO Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment to the Australian Government.

Norfolk Island water quality assessment. A report from the CSIRO Norfolk Island Water Resource Assessment to the Australian Government.

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - Squarespace, accessed August 4, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - Squarespace

View Source

Salinity - Murray�darling Basin Authority

Contextual Support Journal

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

Water quality indicator: Electrical conductivity - Queen Mary University of London, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

www.qmul.ac.uk

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

The optimal range is supported by multiple independent lines of evidence including national guidelines and ecotoxicological reviews. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-IND-WEC family.