Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AMR-FOR-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1500 µS/cm

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

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

Evidence & Context

Primary Ecological Damage Threshold (~1500 µS/cm): This is a critical ecological tipping point.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) threshold indicating primary ecological damage in freshwater systems

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical ecological damage threshold for water electrical conductivity in freshwater systems, beyond which significant adverse effects on aquatic biota and ecosystem function occur.

Justification:

Based on a comprehensive review of Australian data showing adverse effects on aquatic biota above this level.

Sources (1)

Preview of SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic ..., accessed July 30, 2025,

SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic ..., accessed July 30, 2025, Government

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

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Supporting Sources (10)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of An Examination of Stream Water Quality Data from Monitoring of Forest Harvesting in the Eastern Highlands of Victoria - MDPI, accessed August 1, 2025,

An Examination of Stream Water Quality Data from Monitoring of Forest Harvesting in the Eastern Highlands of Victoria - MDPI, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

An Examination of Stream Water Quality Data from Monitoring of Forest Harvesting in the Eastern Highlands of Victoria.

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ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 18, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 31, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

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

Direct Evidence Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

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Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF

Direct Evidence Journal

ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH FOR THE ...

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Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Salinity | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU, accessed July 20, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition Report, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU, accessed July 31, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Rainforest timber plantations and the restoration of plant ...

View Source

tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Palaeovalley Groundwater Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Australia - Geoscience Australia, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

Signifies a shift from stressed to degraded ecosystem state with fundamental changes in species composition and ecological function.

Related Benchmarks

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