Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-LVG-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

950 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. 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

This begins to occur as EC approaches and exceeds 950 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Onset of ecological stress indicated by changes in macroinvertebrate community composition

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the threshold where sensitive aquatic macroinvertebrate species begin to decline, indicating ecological stress in the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome under livestock grazing land use.

Justification:

Empirical studies of aquatic insect communities demonstrate that biodiversity begins to decline as EC levels rise through the 400–950 µS/cm range.

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 ...

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents the onset of detrimental effects where the most sensitive species are lost. Pipeline quarantine: Lower confidence than existing active benchmark v1 (High). Accepted by operator on 2026-06-10 04:31 UTC — superseded v2 (#2900)

Related Benchmarks

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