Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-CON-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 30 to 350 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 30 to 350

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.

Evidence & Context

Salinity (electrical conductivity) - Upland rivers: 30–350 µS/cm (see supporting information)

Metric Definition:

Default ambient water quality risk trigger range for physical and chemical stressors in upland freshwater ecosystems.

Benchmark Definition:

Official regulatory water quality trigger range for upland rivers in southeastern Australia.

Justification:

This is the official regulatory standard set by national (ANZECC) and state agencies for protecting upland rivers in southeast Australia.

Sources (1)

Preview of NSW Water Quality Index Targets

NSW Water Quality Index Targets Journal

New South Wales Government. (2000). Water Quality Guidelines for the Border Rivers Catchment.

View Source

Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - V, accessed July 22, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

1.5.2.1 Surface water - Bioregional Assessments |

View Source

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed May 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Northern Territory Government (2020) Darwin Harbour Region Water Quality Objectives, Report Card Section 3.0.

View Source

Hocking, R., Greene, R., Hughes, C., Johnston, S., & Grover, S. (2011). The impact of de-icing salts on alpine bogs in Kosciuszko National Park.

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Hocking, R., Greene, R., Hughes, C., Johnston, S., & Grover, S. (2011). The impact of de-icing salts on alpine bogs in Kosciuszko National Park.

View Source

Impacts of road de-icing salts on water quality and macroinvertebrates in streams of the Australian Alps (Shenton et al., 2021).

Direct Evidence

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Streams

View Source

Review of water quality studies in the Australian Alps, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Feral horses (Equus caballus) increase suspended sediment in subalpine streams

View Source

Preview of Shenton, M. D., Nichols, S. J., Bray, J. P., Moulding, B. J. G., & Kefford, B. J. (2022). The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas.

Shenton, M. D., Nichols, S. J., Bray, J. P., Moulding, B. J. G., & Kefford, B. J. (2022). The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas.

Contextual Support Journal

Shenton, M. D., Nichols, S. J., Bray, J. P., Moulding, B. J. G., & Kefford, B. J. (2022). The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas.

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Vegetation Riparian
Evidence Type RegulatoryTrigger

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 13 Jun 2026

Notes

Used as a conservative, broad-scale management trigger. However, highly pristine alpine waters naturally occupy only the lowest end of this range.

Related Benchmarks

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