Water Nitrate

AUS-TGP-CON-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

2.84 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 definitive upper detrimental threshold from a toxicological perspective is 2.84 mg/L (as NO3), which corresponds to the ANZEG 99% species protection guideline for sensitive, soft-water ecosystems.

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration (NO3), specifically the 99% species protection level DGV for soft water.

Benchmark Definition:

The concentration at which 99% of species are expected to be protected from chronic toxic effects.

Justification:

Exceeding the ANZEG 99% species protection level of 2.84 mg/L as Nitrate (NO3) represents a clear and unacceptable risk of direct toxic effects to the most sensitive species in the ecosystem.

Sources (1)

Preview of Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025
Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025 Government

(PDF) Impact of mitigated forestry activities on turbidity: assessing ...

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Supporting Sources (24)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 2022 Recommended Land Management for the Water Quality Protection Lands Austin, Texas - AustinTexas.gov, accessed August 12, 2025
2022 Recommended Land Management for the Water Quality Protection Lands Austin, Texas - AustinTexas.gov, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

2022 Recommended Land Management for the Water Quality Protection Lands Austin, Texas - AustinTexas.gov

View Source
Preview of A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025
A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Manning, A. D., Cunningham, R. B., Tongway, D., & Lindenmayer, D. B. (2020). Woodlands and woody debris: Understanding structure and composition to inform restoration. PLoS ONE, 15(3), e0224258.

View Source
Preview of ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

View Source
Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed May 11, 2025,
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Cross Reference Journal

Northern Territory Government (2020) Darwin Harbour Region Water Quality Objectives, Report Card Section 3.0.

View Source
Preview of Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025
Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Turbidity | Australia state of the environment 2021

View Source
Preview of Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

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

View Source
Preview of Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Methodology Source Government

Water Quality Guidelines Home - Water Quality Australia

View Source
Preview of Influence of Forest Harvest on Nitrate Concentration in Temperate Streams—A Meta-Analysis - FreiDok plus, accessed August 12, 2025
Influence of Forest Harvest on Nitrate Concentration in Temperate Streams—A Meta-Analysis - FreiDok plus, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 12, 2025

View Source
Preview of Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025
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
Preview of Monitoring and reporting on water quality - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 5, 2025
Monitoring and reporting on water quality - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support

Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,
National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW

View Source
Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland - ACT Government, accessed August 5, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland - ACT Government, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

The phosphorus and nitrogen requirements of temperate pasture species and their influence on grassland botanical composition - The Australian National University

View Source
Preview of Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025
Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

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

View Source
Preview of Nitrate guidelines values in ANZECC 2000 - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 12, 2025
Nitrate guidelines values in ANZECC 2000 - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

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

View Source
Preview of Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting ..., accessed August 8, 2025
Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting ..., accessed August 8, 2025
Direct Evidence Government

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

View Source
Preview of Nitrate toxicity guidelines for the National Objectives Framework - NIWA, accessed August 8, 2025
Nitrate toxicity guidelines for the National Objectives Framework - NIWA, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Nitrate toxicity guidelines for the National Objectives Framework - NIWA

View Source
Preview of Real-time water quality monitoring | Estuaries - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 12, 2025
Real-time water quality monitoring | Estuaries - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Real-time water quality monitoring | Estuaries - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 12, 2025

View Source
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
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025
Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025
Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Water quality - Defining reference condition for South Australian ..., accessed August 12, 2025
Water quality - Defining reference condition for South Australian ..., accessed August 12, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

What's wrong with the Australian River Assessment System (AUSRIVAS)?, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,
Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Drivers of water quality in Afromontane-savanna rivers - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,
Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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

View Source
Preview of Water quality in the Murray–Darling Basin: The potential impacts of climate change, accessed August 12, 2025
Water quality in the Murray–Darling Basin: The potential impacts of climate change, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support

Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type RegulatoryTrigger

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 28 May 2026

Notes

Upper Detrimental Threshold: 2.84 mg/L. Concentrations approaching this level risk chronic sub-lethal impacts on native fauna.

Related Benchmarks

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

0.014 mg/L High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas ยท Pristine Reference
Point Active v1