Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-LVG-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

125 µS/cm

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MinimumOnly

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 3 benchmarks together — the MinimumOnly form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

MinimumOnly Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The ANZG default trigger for lowland rivers begins at 125 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Lower boundary of water electrical conductivity for lowland rivers

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the minimum water electrical conductivity level considered protective for aquatic ecosystems in lowland rivers of the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome under livestock grazing land use.

Justification:

This value serves as a practical lower boundary for the optimal range, well above the theoretical risk of ion deficiency.

Sources (1)

Preview of The Relationship between Electrical Conductivity and Selected Macroinvertebrate Communities in Four River Systems of South-West Victoria, Australia - ResearchGate

The Relationship between Electrical Conductivity and Selected Macroinvertebrate Communities in Four River Systems of South-West Victoria, Australia - ResearchGate GreyLiterature

The Relationship between Electrical Conductivity and Selected Macroinvertebrate Communities in Four River Systems of South-West Victoria, Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

Preview of Impact of secondary salinisation on freshwater ecosystems: effects of contrasting, experimental, short-term releases of saline wastewater on macroinvertebrates in a lowland stream - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 8, 2025,

Impact of secondary salinisation on freshwater ecosystems: effects of contrasting, experimental, short-term releases of saline wastewater on macroinvertebrates in a lowland stream - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 8, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Comparison of two commonly used methods for identifying water quality thresholds in freshwater ecosystems using field and synthetic data - PubMed

View Source

Preview of Management of major ions in freshwater ecosystems: thresholds of impact and indicators of change - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 17, 2025,

Management of major ions in freshwater ecosystems: thresholds of impact and indicators of change - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 17, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Comparison of two commonly used methods for identifying water ..., accessed August 8, 2025,

View Source

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

Direct Evidence Journal

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

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026
Effective To 10 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Values below 30 µS/cm are theoretically stressful but not a practical management concern in this biome.

Related Benchmarks

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