Water Nitrate — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

0.001 mg/L

Range: 0 to 0.001 mg/L

Optimal Range: 0 to 0.001

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

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

Evidence & Context

Following the standard ANZG approach of using the 80th percentile as the guideline for protecting slightly to moderately disturbed systems, the primary reference value is 1 µg/L.

Metric Definition:

Oxidised Nitrogen (NOx), which is the sum of nitrate (NO3) and nitrite (NO2)

Benchmark Definition:

The 80th percentile value for Oxidised Nitrogen (NOx) in Open Coastal Waters surrounding Magnetic Island.

Justification:

This value is an official Queensland Water Quality Objective (WQO) derived under the national ANZG (2018) framework from local reference site data, representing the most scientifically and regulatorily defensible target for a high-health ecosystem under urban land use.

Sources (1)

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Establishing Environmental Values, Water Quality Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives for Fitzroy Basin Waters - Fitzroy Partnership for River Health, accessed August 2, 2025, Journal

Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 Ross River Basin and ..., accessed August 2, 2025

Supporting Sources (53)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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'Getting worse': unsafe water plagues remote reside... | National Indigenous Times, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

'Getting worse': unsafe water plagues remote reside... | National Indigenous Times, accessed August 2, 2025,

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(PDF) Water Quality Degradation of Coastal Waterways in the Wet Tropics, Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate 6the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia, accessed July 21, 2025

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1.5. Trends in nutrient concentrations - IMOS Ocean Report, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

1.5. Trends in nutrient concentrations - IMOS Ocean Report, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of 2018 ANZ Water Quality Guidelines - Hydrobiology, accessed August 2, 2025,

2018 ANZ Water Quality Guidelines - Hydrobiology, accessed August 2, 2025,

Direct Evidence Regulatory Framework

2018 ANZ Water Quality Guidelines - Hydrobiology, accessed August 2, 2025

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A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, accessed August 2, 2025,

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, accessed August 2, 2025,

Direct Evidence Regulatory Framework

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

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Commitment to Sustainability & Eco-Tourism | Daydream, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Commitment to Sustainability & Eco-Tourism | Daydream, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Developing a reef water quality management plan — case study, accessed August 3, 2025,

Developing a reef water quality management plan — case study, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Altered water flows and quality | Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Development of basin-specific ecologically relevant water quality targets for the Great Barrier Reef, accessed August 3, 2025,

Development of basin-specific ecologically relevant water quality targets for the Great Barrier Reef, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Queensland Reef Water Quality Program | Environment, land and water, accessed August 3, 2025

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Effectiveness of Water-Sensitive Urban Design Techniques on Stormwater Quantity Management at a Residential Allotment Scale - MDPI, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Effectiveness of Water-Sensitive Urban Design Techniques on Stormwater Quantity Management at a Residential Allotment Scale - MDPI, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 Ross River Basin and ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 Ross River Basin and ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 Ross River Basin and ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

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Eutrophication and macroalgal blooms in temperate and tropical coastal waters: nutrient enrichment experiments with Ulva spp - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Eutrophication and macroalgal blooms in temperate and tropical coastal waters: nutrient enrichment experiments with Ulva spp - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - PubMed Central, accessed August 1, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Sediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams: changes with agricultural development and pristine condition status, accessed July 18, 2025

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Full article: The trajectory of water sensitive urban design: integrating water management with urban planning and design - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Full article: The trajectory of water sensitive urban design: integrating water management with urban planning and design - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Hayman Marina - InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Hayman Marina - InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Industry | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025,

Industry | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

R&D Priorities – Australia's estuaries, embayments and nearshore marine environments, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,

Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

5 October 2011 Water quality testing shows little change in Gladstone Harbor The State Government has today released a report r, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025

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Lord Howe Island Marine Park News Water Quality Research Collaboration, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Diving deeper into nutrient pathways to help protect Lord Howe Island's marine haven, accessed August 4, 2025

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Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Improvement Plan 2014-2021 - Reef Catchments, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Improvement Plan 2014-2021 - Reef Catchments, accessed August 2, 2025

Preview of Mackay-Whitsunday Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 2, 2025,

Mackay-Whitsunday Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Mackay-Whitsunday Water Quality Program - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Management implications for Lord Howe Island Groundwater Quality - USC Research Bank, accessed August 4, 2025,

Management implications for Lord Howe Island Groundwater Quality - USC Research Bank, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Torres Strait Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA's) - North West Atlas, accessed August 4, 2025

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Marine zones | Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

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MEDIA RELEASE - Hamilton Island, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

MEDIA RELEASE - Hamilton Island, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000

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

Cross Reference Direct Evidence Government

Nitrate toxicity guidelines for the National Objectives Framework - NIWA

Preview of Nitrite cycling in the primary nitrite maxima of the eastern tropical North Pacific - BG, accessed August 2, 2025,

Nitrite cycling in the primary nitrite maxima of the eastern tropical North Pacific - BG, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Nitrite cycling in the primary nitrite maxima of the eastern tropical North Pacific - BG, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Nitrogen cycling in coastal marine ecosystems | FEMS Microbiology Reviews | Oxford Academic, accessed August 2, 2025,

Nitrogen cycling in coastal marine ecosystems | FEMS Microbiology Reviews | Oxford Academic, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Nitrogen cycling in coastal marine ecosystems | FEMS Microbiology Reviews | Oxford Academic, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed August 4, 2025,

Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Norfolk Island Water Quality Assessment - CSIRO

Preview of Nutrient conversion in the marine environment - Coastal Wiki, accessed August 2, 2025,

Nutrient conversion in the marine environment - Coastal Wiki, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - PubMed Central, accessed August 2, 2025

Preview of Nutrients | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science, accessed August 2, 2025,

Nutrients | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Nutrients | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Proserpine catchment water quality targets, accessed August 2, 2025,

Proserpine catchment water quality targets, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Proserpine catchment water quality targets, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Proserpine River, Whitsunday Island and O'Connell River Basins Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Bioregional Assessment of the Clarence-Moreton bioregion, which includes the Richmond River basin

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Queensland - Wikipedia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Queensland - Wikipedia, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Report Card Explainer - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Report Card Explainer - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, accessed August 2, 2025,

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

Contextual Support Government

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Preview of Science in Water Quality - Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, accessed August 2, 2025,

Science in Water Quality - Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Science in Water Quality - Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, accessed July 22, 2025,

Preview of STATE OF ENVIRONMENT REPORT CARD 2021 - Torres Strait Regional Authority, accessed August 3, 2025,

STATE OF ENVIRONMENT REPORT CARD 2021 - Torres Strait Regional Authority, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

TSRA Groundwater Monitoring: Final Report 2022, accessed August 3, 2025

Preview of Stormwater Management - City of Norfolk, NE, accessed August 2, 2025,

Stormwater Management - City of Norfolk, NE, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Stormwater Management - City of Norfolk, NE, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Townsville basins - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 2, 2025,

Townsville basins - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 - Schedule 1 (referencing WQOs for Black River Basin)

Preview of TSRA Groundwater Monitoring: Final Report 2022, accessed August 3, 2025,

TSRA Groundwater Monitoring: Final Report 2022, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Identifying water quality and ecosystem health threats to the Torres Strait from runoff arising from mine-derived pollution of the Fly River - NESP TWQ, accessed August 3, 2025

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Volume and load of sewage treatment plants | State of the Environment Report 2020, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Volume and load of sewage treatment plants | State of the Environment Report 2020, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Water Quality – how healthy is the sea in Torres Strait, and what are the risks? - eAtlas, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Monitoring progress | Protecting the Great Barrier Reef, accessed August 4, 2025

Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Direct Evidence Regulatory Framework Government

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

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

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

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

Seasonal changes in water quality and macrophytes and the ...

Preview of Water quality guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef - eAtlas, accessed August 2, 2025,

Water quality guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef - eAtlas, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 3, 2025,

Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 3, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PubMed Central

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Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - OECD, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - OECD, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of WATER QUALITY IN THE KAVHA CATCHMENT - Norfolk Island ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

WATER QUALITY IN THE KAVHA CATCHMENT - Norfolk Island ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Development of regional water quality and catchment guidelines for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design - Townsville City Council, accessed August 2, 2025,

Water Sensitive Urban Design - Townsville City Council, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Human society and wellbeing | Australia state of the environment 2021

Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design for the Coastal Dry Tropics (Townsville): Design Objectives for Stormwater Management, accessed August 2, 2025,

Water Sensitive Urban Design for the Coastal Dry Tropics (Townsville): Design Objectives for Stormwater Management, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Water Sensitive Urban Design for the Coastal Dry Tropics (Townsville): Design Objectives for Stormwater Management, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Contextual Support

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 28 May 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0 µg/L. The natural baseline is effectively 0 µg/L NOx, the median of reference sites.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-URB-WNI family.