Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMS-LVG-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

180 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 3 benchmarks together — the MinimumOnly form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

MinimumOnly Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

an EC value of ≤ 180 0003μS/cm (representing the 80th percentile for upland tropical rivers from ANZECC & ARMCANZ 2000) is proposed as a defensible upper benchmark for the "best available condition."

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) is a fundamental measure of the total concentration of dissolved ionic solutes in water.

Benchmark Definition:

Upper benchmark for the 'best available condition' under best-practice sustainable grazing in Tropical Monsoonal Savannas.

Justification:

The benchmark of ≤ 180 0003μS/cm represents the 80th percentile of reference site data for upland tropical rivers in slightly disturbed condition (ANZECC & ARMCANZ 2000, Table 3.3.5).

Sources (1)

Preview of ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025 Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

(PDF) Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environmental Water Requirements of Vallisneria nana in the Daly River, Northern Territory1 | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Preview of Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,

Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Water Quality Guidelines Assessing discharges from a uranium ...

Preview of Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

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

Preview of Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Methodology Source Government

Water Quality Guidelines Home - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Diatom–water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,

Diatom–water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,

Cross Reference GreyLiterature

Validating species sensitivity distributions using salinity tolerance of riverine macroinvertebrates in the southern Murray–Darling Basin (Victoria, Australia) - Canadian Science Publishing

Preview of environment.des.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

environment.des.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Howley, C., Turner, R., Darr, A., & Grimes, A. (2021). Water quality monitoring in Cape York Streams: June to August 2021. Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

Preview of environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna, accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025

Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Livestock Grazing on Wetlands: Literature Review - Waikato Regional Council

Preview of GBA Explorer, accessed May 14, 2025,

GBA Explorer, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

GBA Explorer, accessed May 14, 2025,

Preview of Newaukum Creek Basin Characterization Project Report - King County, accessed May 14, 2025,

Newaukum Creek Basin Characterization Project Report - King County, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Newaukum Creek Basin Characterization Project Report - King County, accessed May 14, 2025,

Preview of nt.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

nt.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Document - Department for Infrastructure and Transport, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Nutrient loadings and deforestation decrease benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in an urbanised tropical stream system | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

Nutrient loadings and deforestation decrease benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in an urbanised tropical stream system | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of papers.acg.uwa.edu.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

papers.acg.uwa.edu.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

papers.acg.uwa.edu.au

Preview of Recommended environmental water requirements for the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on ecological, hydrological and biological principles - DCCEEW, accessed May 14, 2025,

Recommended environmental water requirements for the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on ecological, hydrological and biological principles - DCCEEW, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water quality monitoring in the Mary River catchment - Territory Stories, accessed July 24, 2025

Preview of Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna - Frontiers, accessed May 14, 2025,

Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna - Frontiers, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Cross Reference Journal

Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna - Frontiers, accessed May 14, 2025,

Preview of Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna, accessed May 14, 2025,

Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna, accessed May 14, 2025,

Cross Reference Journal

Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna - Frontiers, accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 11, 2025,

tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Palaeovalley Groundwater Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Australia - Geoscience Australia, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Water quality for livestock | Agriculture and Food, accessed May 14, 2025,

Water quality for livestock | Agriculture and Food, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality for livestock | Agriculture and Food, accessed May 14, 2025

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)

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

This value is consistent with the generally low EC found in healthy, minimally impacted savanna river systems.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-LVG-WEC family.