Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSR-CON-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 20 to 110.9 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 20 to 110.9

Direction: Higher 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 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Across these 75 sites and various seasons, the study recorded an electrical conductivity range of 20.0 to 110.9 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Electrical conductivity range observed in minimally disturbed forest streams in Queensland Wet Tropics.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark captures the natural variability of electrical conductivity in pristine rainforest streams across multiple sites and seasons in the Queensland Wet Tropics.

Justification:

Represents observed variability across a wide geographical area encompassing multiple river basins within the QWT.

Sources (1)

Preview of Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate—the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia | Freshwater Science: Vol 34, No 2, accessed July 22, 2025,

Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate—the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia | Freshwater Science: Vol 34, No 2, accessed July 22, 2025, Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC/ARMCANZ)

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Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

Contextual Support Journal

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

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Barron River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Effects of total dissolved solids on growth and mortality predict ...

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Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate—the Queensland Wet ...

Contextual Support Journal

Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate—the Queensland Wet ...

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Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 | Environment, accessed July 27, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 | Environment

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 2
Effective From 24 Mar 2026
Effective To 24 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Accepted by operator on 2026-03-24 19:27 UTC — superseded v1 (#1830)

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-CON-WEC family.