Water Nitrate — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

0.64 mg/L

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.

Evidence & Context

0.64,1,18.... mg/L. Values as listed apply to nitrate in soft water (< 30 mg/L CaCO3), moderately hard water (30–150 mg/L CaCO3) and hard water (> 150 mg/L CaCO3), respectively. Recommended for application to slightly-to-moderately disturbed ecosystems.

Metric Definition:

Default Guideline Value (DGV) for dissolved nitrate in freshwater ( as ) at the 99% species protection level in soft water ().

Benchmark Definition:

Authoritative state and federal toxicant trigger value for dissolved nitrate in soft water at 99% species protection.

Justification:

This is the authoritative state and federal toxicant trigger value under the ANZG (2018) guidelines. Because alpine and subalpine waters are naturally very soft (), this specific water hardness band is highly applicable.

Sources (4)

Preview of Data analysis: 2018-2019 catchment nutrient reports

Data analysis: 2018-2019 catchment nutrient reports Government

Data analysis: 2018-2019 catchment nutrient reports

Preview of Long-term changes in water quality and solute exports in headwater streams of intensively managed radiata pine and natural eucalypt forest catchments in south-eastern Australia

Long-term changes in water quality and solute exports in headwater streams of intensively managed radiata pine and natural eucalypt forest catchments in south-eastern Australia

Long-term changes in water quality and solute exports in headwater streams of intensively managed radiata pine and natural eucalypt forest catchments in south-eastern Australia

Preview of Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025

Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025 Journal

Nitrate guidelines values in ANZECC 2000

Preview of Natural water systems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 31, 2025,

Natural water systems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 31, 2025, Journal

Stream nitrate in planted forests

Supporting Sources (14)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Australia and New Zealand Draft Guidelines for Fresh - Queensland Farmers' Federation

Australia and New Zealand Draft Guidelines for Fresh - Queensland Farmers' Federation

Contextual Support Journal

Australia and New Zealand Draft Guidelines for Fresh - Queensland Farmers' Federation

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

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

Contextual Support Journal

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

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

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.

Preview of Desktop review – Impact of bushfires on water quality, accessed August 10, 2025,

Desktop review – Impact of bushfires on water quality, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Sustainable Forest Management Framework of Criteria and Indicators 2008 - DAFF

Preview of Ecosystem Health - Top of the South Scorecards Freshwater & Terrestrial Ecosystems - The Nature Conservancy, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Ecosystem Health - Top of the South Scorecards Freshwater & Terrestrial Ecosystems - The Nature Conservancy, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ecosystem Health - Top of the South Scorecards Freshwater & Terrestrial Ecosystems - The Nature Conservancy, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Establishment of reference or baseline conditions of chemical indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers relative to present conditions - CSIRO Publishing

Establishment of reference or baseline conditions of chemical indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers relative to present conditions - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Journal

Establishment of reference or baseline conditions of chemical indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers relative to present conditions - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of Limitation and retention of nutrients in alpine streams of Switzerland - ResearchGate

Limitation and retention of nutrients in alpine streams of Switzerland - ResearchGate

Contextual Support

Limitation and retention of nutrients in alpine streams of Switzerland - ResearchGate

Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of Persistent Nitrate in Alpine Waters with Changing Atmospheric Deposition and Warming Trends | Environmental Science & Technology - ACS Publications

Persistent Nitrate in Alpine Waters with Changing Atmospheric Deposition and Warming Trends | Environmental Science & Technology - ACS Publications

Contextual Support Journal

Persistent Nitrate in Alpine Waters with Changing Atmospheric Deposition and Warming Trends | Environmental Science & Technology - ACS Publications

Preview of Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of forestry impacts on waterway health in NSW coastal forests - Natural Resources Commission, accessed August 9, 2025

Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of forestry impacts on waterway health in NSW coastal forests - Natural Resources Commission, accessed August 9, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of ..., accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Streamside Forest Buffer Width Needed to Protect Stream Water Quality, Habitat, and Organisms

Streamside Forest Buffer Width Needed to Protect Stream Water Quality, Habitat, and Organisms

Contextual Support Journal

Streamside Forest Buffer Width Needed to Protect Stream Water Quality, Habitat, and Organisms

Preview of The legacy of a severe wildfire on stream nitrogen and carbon in headwater catchments - USDA Forest Service

The legacy of a severe wildfire on stream nitrogen and carbon in headwater catchments - USDA Forest Service

Contextual Support

The legacy of a severe wildfire on stream nitrogen and carbon in headwater catchments - USDA Forest Service

Preview of Toxicant default guideline values technical briefs - Water Quality Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,

Toxicant default guideline values technical briefs - Water Quality Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Toxicant default guideline values technical briefs

Preview of Water Quality of Rivers in the Inglis – Flowerdale Catchment - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Water Quality of Rivers in the Inglis – Flowerdale Catchment - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Contextual Support Journal

Derwent Estuary Program (2011). Derwent Catchment Review Part 1.