Water Nitrate

AUS-TDG-LVG-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.088 mg/L
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

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 MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard CompositeFramework Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The ANZECC (2000) physical and chemical stressor guideline for Oxidised Nitrogen (NOx) for South-East Australia, Lowland Rivers (slightly disturbed ecosystems), as presented in Table 3.3.2 of the guidelines, is 0.020 mg/L (as N). This value appears to be the most appropriate starting point for establishing the benchmark. As calculated previously, this is equivalent to approximately 0.088 mg/L as NO3−​ (assuming all NOx is in the form of nitrate).

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration in surface waters, measured as mg/L of nitrate (NO3−​).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the water nitrate concentration threshold indicating nutrient pollution risk in aquatic ecosystems within Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands under livestock grazing. It is based on a guideline for slightly disturbed lowland rivers in South-East Australia, serving as a proxy for best available condition to prevent eutrophication.

Justification:

Derived from the ANZECC (2000) default trigger value for Oxidised Nitrogen (NOx) of 0.020 mg N/L for South-East Australia, Lowland Rivers in 'slightly disturbed ecosystems' (Table 3.3.2), converted to nitrate concentration. This value is used as a proxy for the 'best available condition' under sustainable livestock grazing in Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands due to its origin from minimally impacted reference sites and its aim to prevent eutrophication.

Sources (2)

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council & Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (2000). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Volume 1: The Guidelines.
Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council & Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (2000). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Volume 1: The Guidelines. Journal

Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council & Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (2000). Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Volume 1: The Guidelines.

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 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

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values indicate eutrophication risk above 0.088 mg/L nitrate. Natural low levels are optimal. A key ecotoxicity threshold is 0.7 mg/L nitrate (95% species protection). AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.