Water Turbidity

AUS-TGP-AGR-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 NTU

Range: — to 5 NTU

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 5

Optimal Range: — to 5

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

Turbidity levels in farm water supplies should be kept below 5 NTU to avoid the formation of sludge and clogging of pipes, tanks, and micro-irrigation systems.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity levels in farm water supplies to prevent operational issues.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the maximum turbidity level in farm water supplies to prevent operational problems such as sludge formation and clogging, reflecting best-practice land management in agricultural settings.

Justification:

This is an engineering and operational standard rather than an ecological one, demonstrating that very clear water is achievable and desirable for practical reasons.

Sources (1)

Preview of Water quality for farm water supplies | Managing dams - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality for farm water supplies | Managing dams - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 1, 2025, Government

Water quality for farm water supplies | Managing dams - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 1, 2025,

Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Revegetation of water supply catchments following bushfire: A review of the scientific literature relevant to the Lower Cotter catchment - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) Revegetation of water supply catchments following bushfire: A review of the scientific literature relevant to the Lower Cotter catchment - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Revegetation of water supply catchments following bushfire: A review of the scientific literature relevant to the Lower Cotter catchment - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of 1.1.5.2 Surface water quality - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 5, 2025,

1.1.5.2 Surface water quality - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

1.1.5.2 Surface water quality - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

A review of the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed August 5, 2025,

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

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

Contextual Support Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Australia's Agricultural Future - Australian Council of Learned Academies, accessed August 5, 2025,

Australia's Agricultural Future - Australian Council of Learned Academies, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Agricultural Future - Australian Council of Learned Academies, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - Tuvalu Environment Data Portal, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, accessed August 2, 2025,

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

National Guidelines for Water Quality | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Preview of Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025

Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Report Card 2022-23 - EPA Victoria

Preview of Clarity and colour - WetlandInfo, accessed August 12, 2025,

Clarity and colour - WetlandInfo, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Cover Crops and Water Quality - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Cover Crops and Water Quality - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Cover Crops and Water Quality - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Ecosystems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 5, 2025,

Ecosystems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Ecosystems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Environmental problems in Australia | WWF - Panda.org, accessed August 5, 2025,

Environmental problems in Australia | WWF - Panda.org, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Environmental problems in Australia | WWF - Panda.org, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 10, 2025

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,

Direct Evidence

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ...

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

Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF

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, accessed May 14, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative Agriculture Case Studies - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Regenerative Agriculture Case Studies - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Agriculture Case Studies - Soils For Life, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

NCC: Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of River Health 2021 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,

River Health 2021 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

River Health 2021 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Riverine Ecosystem Management: Science for Governing Towards a Sustainable Future - SciSpace, accessed August 5, 2025,

Riverine Ecosystem Management: Science for Governing Towards a Sustainable Future - SciSpace, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Riverine Ecosystem Management: Science for Governing Towards a Sustainable Future - SciSpace, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,

The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 6, 2025

Preview of The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices, accessed August 5, 2025

The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Protecting farm waterways | Dairy News Australia

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

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - Tuvalu Environment Data Portal, accessed July 19, 2025,

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

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

Contextual Support Government

Water quality - Healthy Waterways Strategy, accessed August 12, 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)

Preview of Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025

Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025

Contextual Support Government

(PDF) Impact of mitigated forestry activities on turbidity: assessing ..., accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

National Guidelines for Water Quality | Department of Natural ...

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: None specified. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 5 NTU. This is an operational target representing an aspirational goal for very clear water.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-AGR-WTU family.