Water Nitrate

AUS-TMS-CON-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.03 mg/L

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0.03

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 8 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 7 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

The ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) default trigger value of 0.030 mg NOx 2 N/L for slightly disturbed tropical upland rivers suggests that high-quality conservation sites should ideally exhibit NO3 2 BN concentrations at or below this level, reinforcing the expectation of very low nitrate.

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration expressed as milligrams per liter as Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3 2 BN).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum nitrate concentration recommended for high-quality conservation sites in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas, supporting very low nitrate levels to maintain ecosystem health.

Justification:

This value is a default trigger for slightly disturbed tropical upland rivers and supports the expectation of very low nitrate in high-quality conservation sites.

Sources (1)

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,

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (51)

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 Journal

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

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

Direct Evidence Government

Water Quality Guidelines Home - Water Quality Australia

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Litchfield Savanna BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data ..., accessed May 20, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Litchfield Savanna BASE Contextual, Soil Physico-Chemical Data ..., accessed May 20, 2025,

View Source

Preview of Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish | Conservation Physiology | Oxford Academic, accessed May 20, 2025,

Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish | Conservation Physiology | Oxford Academic, accessed May 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

View Source

Surface water chemistry monitoring protocol to assess ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source

Surface water chemistry monitoring protocol to assess ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 20, 2025,

View Source

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

Direct Evidence

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

Direct Evidence

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

Direct Evidence

Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia

View Source

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

View Source

tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 20, 2025,

Contextual Support