Water Nitrate — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

1.1 mg/L

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: UpperThreshold

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

the upper detrimental threshold is: 1.1 mg/L as NO3−-N for soft water (< 30 mg/L CaCO3).

Metric Definition:

The concentration of nitrate in runoff and drainage water serves as a key indicator of the efficiency of a grazing system's nutrient cycle.

Benchmark Definition:

The concentration above which water nitrate poses a potential risk of harm to the aquatic ecosystem.

Justification:

Defined by the national scientific consensus embodied in the ANZG 2025 Default Guideline Values (DGVs) for 95% species protection.

Sources (1)

Preview of Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds, accessed August 8, 2025

Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds, accessed August 8, 2025 Journal

Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (41)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 5. A bioeconomic framework for assessing the long-term economic benefits of grazing management tactics and implications for sustainability - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

(PDF) Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 5. A bioeconomic framework for assessing the long-term economic benefits of grazing management tactics and implications for sustainability - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 4. Soil water dynamics and runoff events for differently-managed pasture types - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Preview of 1E Grazing Management - Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Control Program Encyclopedia | California State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 8, 2025

1E Grazing Management - Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Control Program Encyclopedia | California State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

1E Grazing Management - Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Control Program Encyclopedia | California State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Determining safe levels of ammonia and nitrite for shrimp culture - Global Seafood Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025

View Source

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library

View Source

B.PUE.0105 Final Report - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

B.PUE.0105 Final Report - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

BorderRangesRainforest - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

BorderRangesRainforest - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Preview of Critical nutrient thresholds needed to control eutrophication and synergistic interactions between phosphorus and different nitrogen sources - PubMed, accessed August 8, 2025

Critical nutrient thresholds needed to control eutrophication and synergistic interactions between phosphorus and different nitrogen sources - PubMed, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

B.PUE.0105 Final Report - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

View Source

Drinking Water Nitrate and Human Health: An Updated Review - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Estimated Nitrate Concentrations in Groundwater Used for Drinking | US EPA, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Effects of Sheep Grazing Systems on Water Quality with a Focus on Nitrate Leaching - MDPI, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Irrelevant Journal

Grazing Livestock and Water Quality - NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Livestock Grazing on Wetlands: Literature Review - Waikato Regional Council

View Source

Estimated Nitrate Concentrations in Groundwater Used for Drinking | US EPA, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Review of water quality studies in the Australian Alps

View Source

Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Infiltration rates and soil moisture in a groved mulga community near ..., accessed July 18, 2025

View Source

Preview of Impact of more intensive grazing on nitrogen and phosphorus in shallow aquifers of the Southern Perth Basin - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 8, 2025

Impact of more intensive grazing on nitrogen and phosphorus in shallow aquifers of the Southern Perth Basin - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support

Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Managing Gully Erosion - NQ Dry Tropics

View Source

Livestock drinking water guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Livestock drinking water guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Hickey, C. (2002). Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000. Memorandum MFE02237 prepared for Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand). NIWA Client Report: HAM2002-126.

View Source

Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZG 2018)

View Source

Nitrate contamination in drinking water frequently asked questions - Greenpeace Aotearoa, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nitrate contamination in drinking water frequently asked questions - Greenpeace Aotearoa, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Nitrate in drinking water - WA Health, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Nitrate in drinking water - WA Health, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source

Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting ..., accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting aquatic ecosystems, technical brief

View Source

Preview of Nitrate leaching from temperate perennial pastures grazed by dairy cows in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

Nitrate leaching from temperate perennial pastures grazed by dairy cows in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Nitrate leaching from temperate perennial pastures grazed by dairy cows in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

Nitrate toxicity guidelines for the National Objectives Framework - NIWA, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Nitrate toxicity guidelines for the National Objectives Framework - NIWA

View Source

Nitrates - European Commission - Environment, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Nitrates - European Commission - Environment, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Nitrogen attenuation by stream riparian zones: Prospects for Australian landscapes, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support

Nitrate leaching from temperate perennial pastures grazed by dairy cows in south-eastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Nitrogen fixation in Australian dairy systems: review and prospect - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen attenuation by stream riparian zones: Prospects for Australian landscapes, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Preview of North-east Victoria SGS National Experiment site: water and nutrient losses from grazing systems on contrasting soil types and levels of inputs - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

North-east Victoria SGS National Experiment site: water and nutrient losses from grazing systems on contrasting soil types and levels of inputs - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

Direct Evidence

North-east Victoria SGS National Experiment site: water and nutrient losses from grazing systems on contrasting soil types and levels of inputs - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing water quality risk framework 2017-2022, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source

Regenerative agriculture - Wikipedia, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support

Regenerative agriculture - Wikipedia

View Source

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Seasonal Variation and Driving Factors of Nitrate in Rivers of Miyun Reservoir Watershed, North China - MDPI, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Seasonal Variation and Driving Factors of Nitrate in Rivers of Miyun Reservoir Watershed, North China - MDPI, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Soil carbon and climate change - Enviro Data SA, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

1E Grazing Management - Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Control Program Encyclopedia | California State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Preview of Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 4. Soil water dynamics and runoff events for differently-managed pasture types - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 4. Soil water dynamics and runoff events for differently-managed pasture types - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 4. Soil water dynamics and runoff events for differently-managed pasture types - ResearchGate, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Preview of Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 5. A bioeconomic framework for assessing the long-term economic benefits of grazing management tactics and implications for sustainability - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 8, 2025

Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 5. A bioeconomic framework for assessing the long-term economic benefits of grazing management tactics and implications for sustainability - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Plant responses to livestock grazing frequency in an Australian temperate grassland, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Irrelevant Government

Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed July 24, 2025,

View Source

Preview of The North Wyke Farm Platform: effect of temperate grassland farming systems on soil moisture contents, runoff and associated water quality dynamics - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 8, 2025

The North Wyke Farm Platform: effect of temperate grassland farming systems on soil moisture contents, runoff and associated water quality dynamics - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

The North Wyke Farm Platform: effect of temperate grassland farming systems on soil moisture contents, runoff and associated water quality dynamics - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW

View Source

Preview of Towards sustainable grassland and livestock management | The Journal of Agricultural Science | Cambridge Core, accessed August 8, 2025

Towards sustainable grassland and livestock management | The Journal of Agricultural Science | Cambridge Core, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Towards sustainable grassland and livestock management | The Journal of Agricultural Science | Cambridge Core, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting aquatic ecosystems

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 28 May 2026

Notes

Upper Detrimental Threshold: 1.1 mg/L. Potential impacts include chronic toxicity to sensitive aquatic species and contributing to eutrophication. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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