Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-LVG-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 400 to 950 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 400 to 950

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

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Empirical studies identified ecological thresholds for macroinvertebrate community degradation beginning around 400–950 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Electrical conductivity thresholds indicating onset of ecological stress in aquatic macroinvertebrate communities.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark indicates the electrical conductivity range where sensitive macroinvertebrate species begin to decline, signaling ecological stress in aquatic communities.

Justification:

This range is based on 14 years of macroinvertebrate data analyzed by Gradient Forest and TITAN methods in South Australian rivers comparable to the target biome.

Sources (2)

Preview of Impact of secondary salinisation on freshwater ecosystems: effects of contrasting, experimental, short-term releases of saline wastewater on macroinvertebrates in a lowland stream - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 8, 2025,

Impact of secondary salinisation on freshwater ecosystems: effects of contrasting, experimental, short-term releases of saline wastewater on macroinvertebrates in a lowland stream - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 8, 2025, Journal

Comparison of two commonly used methods for identifying water quality thresholds in freshwater ecosystems using field and synthetic data - PubMed

View Source

Preview of Management of major ions in freshwater ecosystems: thresholds of impact and indicators of change - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 17, 2025,

Management of major ions in freshwater ecosystems: thresholds of impact and indicators of change - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 17, 2025, GreyLiterature

Comparison of two commonly used methods for identifying water ..., accessed August 8, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

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,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

Preview of The Relationship between Electrical Conductivity and Selected Macroinvertebrate Communities in Four River Systems of South-West Victoria, Australia - ResearchGate

The Relationship between Electrical Conductivity and Selected Macroinvertebrate Communities in Four River Systems of South-West Victoria, Australia - ResearchGate

Regulatory Framework Journal

The Relationship between Electrical Conductivity and Selected Macroinvertebrate Communities in Four River Systems of South-West Victoria, Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

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

Direct Evidence Journal

Salinity | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 8, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

This range represents the onset of ecological degradation and supports the selection of a conservative benchmark below this range.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-LVG-WEC family.