Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMS-URB-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 20 to 200 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 20 to 200

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

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 proposed optimal range for Electrical Conductivity is 20 – 200 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Electrical Conductivity (EC) range representing healthy freshwater ecosystem conditions.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of Electrical Conductivity for maintaining high ecological condition in urban tropical savanna freshwater ecosystems.

Justification:

Range integrates the lower critical threshold and the upper protective benchmark, representing natural variability and ecological health.

Sources (1)

Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, accessed July 16, 2025, Journal

Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

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

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

Direct Evidence Government

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

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

Systems maintained within this range by best-practice urban water management are operating within natural variability and avoid physiological stress from over-dilution or salinization. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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