Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TSW-CON-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 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

The annual median electrical conductivity should remain below 1,500 μS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Annual median electrical conductivity of surface waters

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the upper limit of electrical conductivity in surface waters to maintain ecological integrity in Australia's temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands under conservation management.

Justification:

The threshold of <1,500 μS/cm is based on ecotoxicological studies and is well below degraded stream levels, providing a specific ecological target better than general guidelines.

Sources (5)

Preview of Accessory Publication Relative salinity tolerance of macroinvertebrates from the Barwon River, Victoria, Australia

Accessory Publication Relative salinity tolerance of macroinvertebrates from the Barwon River, Victoria, Australia Journal

Pine Creek, near Dutton 2010 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition Report - EPA SA

View Source

Preview of Coolgardie woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 13, 2025

Coolgardie woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 13, 2025 GreyLiterature

Salinity - Murray�Darling Basin Authority

View Source

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - CSIRO Publishing Journal

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - CSIRO Publishing

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Technical information supporting the 2023 River Murray: salinity environmental trend and condition report cards. Journal

Technical information supporting the 2023 River Murray: salinity environmental trend and condition report cards.

View Source

Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025, Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

This benchmark represents the best available ecological condition for ephemeral and intermittent streams in temperate semi-arid conservation lands. Persistent median EC values above 1,500 μS/cm indicate a degraded state with loss of sensitive freshwater species.

Related Benchmarks

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