Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AMR-LVG-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1500 µS/cm

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Broad-scale adverse effects on aquatic biota begin to occur as salinity exceeds 1,000 mg/L TDS, which corresponds to an EC of approximately 1,500 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper electrical conductivity limit above which broad-scale adverse effects on aquatic biota begin to occur in Australian Arid Mountain Range water bodies.

Justification:

This threshold is based on a comprehensive review of the effects of increasing salinity on Australian freshwater ecosystems indicating the onset of broad-scale stress across multiple taxonomic groups.

Sources (1)

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ... Journal

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ...

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Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Contextual Support Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

View Source

NATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR RANGELAND MANAGEMENT, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water Quality for Livestock and Poultry - Water quality for agriculture

View Source

Preview of Variation of water quality parameters with location in the two known habitats of Mogurnda clivicola (Flinders Ranges Mogurnda) and the implications for the ongoing viability of those habitats

Variation of water quality parameters with location in the two known habitats of Mogurnda clivicola (Flinders Ranges Mogurnda) and the implications for the ongoing viability of those habitats

Contextual Support Journal

Variation of water quality parameters with location in the two known habitats of Mogurnda clivicola (Flinders Ranges Mogurnda) and the implications for the ongoing viability of those habitats

View Source

Water Quality and the Grazing Animal - UNL Digital Commons, accessed July 25, 2025

Contextual Support

Water Quality and the Grazing Animal - UNL Digital Commons

View Source

Water quality for livestock, accessed July 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

This value serves as a critical upper boundary for management aiming to protect overall aquatic biodiversity, distinct from the higher tolerances of a few highly adapted species or livestock. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-LVG-WEC family.