Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AIF-CON-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

300 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 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

There is no evidence to support a lower critical threshold for EC. Instead, values < 300 µS/cm represent a state of peak ecological opportunity and health in this biome.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) in surface water of arid inland floodplains

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the minimum water electrical conductivity level indicating peak ecological health and opportunity in arid inland floodplains during flood phases.

Justification:

Lowest EC values during floods correspond to peak ecological health; no detrimental lower threshold exists.

Sources (2)

Preview of Validating species sensitivity distributions using salinity tolerance of riverine macroinvertebrates in the southern MurrayDarling Basin (Victoria, Australia) - Canadian Science Publishing

Validating species sensitivity distributions using salinity tolerance of riverine macroinvertebrates in the southern MurrayDarling Basin (Victoria, Australia) - Canadian Science Publishing Journal

Validating species sensitivity distributions using salinity tolerance of riverine macroinvertebrates in the southern Murray–Darling Basin (Victoria, Australia)

View Source

Preview of Water and sediment quality in the Diamantina-Georgina River catchment, Lake Eyre Basin

Water and sediment quality in the Diamantina-Georgina River catchment, Lake Eyre Basin Journal

Water quality in the Georgina-Diamantina River catchment

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Water quality in two Australian dryland rivers: spatial and temporal variability and the role of flow - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

(PDF) Water quality in two Australian dryland rivers: spatial and temporal variability and the role of flow - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Direct Evidence

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

View Source

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

Direct Evidence Government

Salinity | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Lowest EC values (< 300 µS/cm) during floods represent peak ecological health and opportunity in the biome.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AIF-CON-WEC family.