Water Turbidity

AUS-TMS-CON-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 5 to 10 NTU

Optimal Range: 5 to 10

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 11 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 10 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The recommended benchmark, applicable during dry season or recessional flow conditions, is a median turbidity in the range of approximately 5-10 NTU, with values consistently remaining below 20 NTU.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity measured as the concentration of suspended particulate matter affecting water clarity during dry season or recessional flow conditions.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the healthy range of water turbidity during dry season or recessional flow in tropical monsoonal savanna rivers, indicating good water clarity and ecosystem health.

Justification:

Derived from regional data and official objectives for ecosystem protection in less impacted systems during dry season/recessional flow conditions.

Sources (2)

Preview of Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport (NRETAS). (2009). Water Quality Protection Plan – Darwin Harbour Region. Final Draft – November 2009. Technical Report No. 12/2009D. Northern Territory Government, Darwin.

Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport (NRETAS). (2009). Water Quality Protection Plan – Darwin Harbour Region. Final Draft – November 2009. Technical Report No. 12/2009D. Northern Territory Government, Darwin. Journal

View Source

Preview of Northern Territory Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security (or preceding agencies). (2009). Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region. Summary Document (referencing Fukuda & Townsend, 2006).

Northern Territory Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security (or preceding agencies). (2009). Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region. Summary Document (referencing Fukuda & Townsend, 2006).

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

3 EXISTING WATER QUALITY

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

3 EXISTING WATER QUALITY

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

Benchmark represents high environmental health in minimally disturbed tropical savanna riverine systems during dry season/recessional flows. The 5-10 NTU range is based on observed medians (e.g., 6.3 NTU in Darwin Harbour streams) indicative of good conditions. The <20 NTU is a Northern Territory Water Quality Objective for ecosystem protection in non-disturbed freshwater rivers/streams under these flow conditions.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-CON-WTU family.