Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSR-AGR-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

350 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 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

Values exceeding the regional upland river guideline of 350 µS/cm signify significant disturbance.

Metric Definition:

Upper threshold for Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) indicating potential ecological risk.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark sets the upper threshold for Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) in tropical rainforest agricultural streams, above which significant ecological disturbance is indicated.

Justification:

Based on the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC/ARMCANZ) for upland rivers.

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 DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Superseded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

Notes

Exceeding this value indicates potential risk and prompts further investigation. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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