Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-LVG-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. 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

More widespread and significant adverse effects on aquatic biota occur as salinity rises above 1500 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Level at which widespread adverse effects on aquatic biota are expected

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark indicates the salinity level at which widespread and significant adverse effects on aquatic biota occur in the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome under livestock grazing land use.

Justification:

Broader reviews indicate more widespread and significant adverse effects on aquatic biota occur as salinity rises above 1500 µS/cm.

Sources (1)

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

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

Regulatory Framework GreyLiterature

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

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 Superseded
Version 2
Effective From 10 Jun 2026
Effective To 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a threshold for more severe degradation. Pipeline quarantine: Lower confidence than existing active benchmark v1 (High). Accepted by operator on 2026-06-10 04:31 UTC — superseded v2 (#2901)

Related Benchmarks

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