Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-IND-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

166.3 μS/cm

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

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 3 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on this primary evidence, the mean EC of 166.3 0003μS/cm observed across the low-EI reference sites is proposed as the core reference value.

Metric Definition:

The electrical conductivity (EC) of surface waters is a fundamental measure of their ionic content, primarily reflecting the concentration of dissolved inorganic salts.

Benchmark Definition:

Mean EC of low-EI (<5% imperviousness) clean non-urban reference streams.

Justification:

Represents the best available, real-world condition for a system with minimal, well-managed infrastructure impact.

Sources (1)

Preview of Development of regional water quality and catchment guidelines for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 30, 2025,

Development of regional water quality and catchment guidelines for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 30, 2025, Journal

Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009

Supporting Sources (23)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) A review of the salt sensitivity of the Australian freshwater biota, accessed August 11, 2025,

(PDF) A review of the salt sensitivity of the Australian freshwater biota, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Salinity Tolerances of Freshwater Macroinvertebrates

Preview of (PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

Preview of (PDF) Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme (HRSTS) - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

(PDF) Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme (HRSTS) - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

(PDF) Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme (HRSTS) - ResearchGate

Preview of 1.5.2.1 Surface water - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

1.5.2.1 Surface water - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Percentage compliance with ANZECC water quality trigger values for aquatic ecosystems, primary contact recreation and secondary

Preview of 5.9 Conductivity | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 11, 2025,

5.9 Conductivity | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

archive.epa.gov

Preview of A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government

Preview of Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting, accessed August 11, 2025,

Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Salinity in the Hunter Regulated River - Bioregional Assessments |

Preview of Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate

Preview of Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Percentage compliance with ANZECC water quality trigger values for aquatic ecosystems, primary contact recreation and secondary

Preview of National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,

National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW

Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (2006). Woodland Remnants and Dryland Salinity: Impacts of dryland salinity on woodland remnants in the Southern Tablelands and South-West Slopes of New South Wales.

Preview of Protection of the Environment Operations (Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme) Regulation 2002, accessed August 11, 2025,

Protection of the Environment Operations (Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme) Regulation 2002, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Water Pollution Control Policy: Addressing Non-Point Source Pollution - Inquiries Journal

Preview of Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Salinity | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

Preview of Salinity in the Hunter Regulated River - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

Salinity in the Hunter Regulated River - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Protection of the Environment Operations (Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme) Regulation 2002

Preview of Salinity sensitivity in early life stages of an Australian freshwater fish, Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii Mitchell 1838) - University of Canberra Research Portal, accessed August 11, 2025,

Salinity sensitivity in early life stages of an Australian freshwater fish, Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii Mitchell 1838) - University of Canberra Research Portal, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Salinity sensitivity in early life stages of an Australian freshwater fish, Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii Mitchell 1838)

Preview of Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Reference-site data - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Water Pollution Control Policy: Addressing Non-Point Source Pollution - Inquiries Journal, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water Pollution Control Policy: Addressing Non-Point Source Pollution - Inquiries Journal, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Journal

Water Pollution Control Policy: Addressing Non-Point Source Pollution - Inquiries Journal, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Water quality - Healthy Waterways Strategy, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality - Healthy Waterways Strategy, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting

Preview of Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Drivers of water quality in Afromontane-savanna rivers - Frontiers

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

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

Contextual Support Government

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

Preview of Water Quality Guidelines Level of protection, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water Quality Guidelines Level of protection, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region

Preview of Water quality indicator: Electrical conductivity - Queen Mary University of London, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality indicator: Electrical conductivity - Queen Mary University of London, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.qmul.ac.uk

Preview of Water-Quality-Salinity-Standards.pdf, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water-Quality-Salinity-Standards.pdf, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ..., accessed July 21, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Derived from the Georges River catchment study.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-IND-WEC family.