Water Nitrate

AUS-TMS-LVG-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

11.3 mg/L
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 11.3
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

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

Evidence & Context

Concentrations >11.3 mg/L NO3-N (equivalent to 50 mg/L NO3) are associated with more widespread detrimental effects on aquatic fauna and may also pose risks to other water uses.

Metric Definition:

Nitrate-N concentration in water associated with broad detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the nitrate concentration threshold above which broad detrimental ecological effects occur in tropical savanna aquatic ecosystems.

Justification:

This level is linked to significant harm to aquatic fauna and potential risks to other water uses.

Sources (1)

Preview of environment.nt.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,
environment.nt.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025, Journal

Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

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Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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
Direct Evidence Journal

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

View Source
Preview of Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment
Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment
Direct Evidence Journal

Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

View Source
Preview of www.rrrc.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
www.rrrc.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Sediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams: changes with agricultural development and pristine condition status (Technical Report No. 62, Australian Rainforest CRC, 2006)

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 3
  • Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

This threshold is higher than those for early enrichment and species protection.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-LVG-WNI family.

0.019 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
— mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
2.4 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Superseded v2
0.05 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Superseded v1