Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSR-AGR-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 20 to 110 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 20 to 110

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

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 13 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 12 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The optimal range for maintaining ecosystem health is considered to be 20-110 µS/cm, which mirrors the natural baseline of undisturbed streams.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) optimal range for ecosystem health in managed landscapes.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) for maintaining ecosystem health in tropical rainforest agricultural streams, reflecting natural baseline conditions.

Justification:

This range mirrors the natural baseline of undisturbed streams and is supported by extensive survey data.

Sources (1)

Preview of Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate—the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia | Freshwater Science: Vol 34, No 2, accessed July 22, 2025,

Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate—the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia | Freshwater Science: Vol 34, No 2, accessed July 22, 2025, Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC/ARMCANZ)

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

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

Johnstone River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality ...

Direct Evidence Journal

Johnstone River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality ...

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Low EC is characteristic of high ecosystem health. Values above this range indicate departure from high-health conditions. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-AGR-WEC family.