Water Turbidity

AUS-TSW-IND-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

36 NTU
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 36
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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

a detrimental upper threshold for turbidity in this context can be considered to be approximately 36 NTU, as it is generally considered 'too murky' for good environmental clarity.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity, a fundamental physical characteristic of water, quantifies the degree to which light is scattered or absorbed by suspended particles.

Benchmark Definition:

A turbidity level of approximately 36 NTU is considered a detrimental upper threshold beyond which water clarity is too poor to support good environmental conditions in temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands under industrial use.

Justification:

Sustained turbidity levels above 25-50 NTU, particularly when linked to anthropogenic sources, indicate a degraded state likely to cause significant ecological harm.

Sources (1)

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Assessing Water Quality - Secondary Education Years 9 to 12 - Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch, accessed August 12, 2025, Journal

Assessing water quality - ACT Waterwatch

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Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) A Geospatial Database for Effective Mine Rehabilitation in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) A Geospatial Database for Effective Mine Rehabilitation in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Ambient Water Quality Guidelines (Criteria) for Turbidity ... - Gov.bc.ca, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ambient Water Quality Guidelines (Criteria) for Turbidity ... - Gov.bc.ca, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Appendix E Rehabilitation Benchmarking Study - EPA WA, accessed July 16, 2025,
Appendix E Rehabilitation Benchmarking Study - EPA WA, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Appendix E Rehabilitation Benchmarking Study - EPA WA, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality, accessed July 19, 2025,
Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed July 21, 2025,

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Preview of Baseline Water Quality Monitoring - EPA WA, accessed July 16, 2025,
Baseline Water Quality Monitoring - EPA WA, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Baseline Water Quality Monitoring - EPA WA, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Categories - Turbidity - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 16, 2025,
Categories - Turbidity - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Categories - Turbidity - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Categories - Water quality - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 16, 2025,
Categories - Water quality - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Data Home, accessed July 25, 2025,

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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

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Preview of Coal mine-affected water releases, turbidity and metal concentrations in the Fitzroy River Basin, Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,
Coal mine-affected water releases, turbidity and metal concentrations in the Fitzroy River Basin, Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Coal mine-affected water releases, turbidity and metal concentrations in the Fitzroy River Basin, Queensland, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Ecological effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a semi-arid floodplain wetland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Ecological effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a semi-arid floodplain wetland, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ecological effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a semi-arid floodplain wetland, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia
Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia
Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

TERN Surveillance monitoring program: Soil vis-NIR spectral library with accompanying soil measurement data for 367 specimens - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 17, 2025,

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Preview of Effects of common carp on water quality and submerged vegetation: results from a short-term mesocosm experiment in an artificial wetland - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,
Effects of common carp on water quality and submerged vegetation: results from a short-term mesocosm experiment in an artificial wetland - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of common carp on water quality and submerged vegetation: results from a short-term mesocosm experiment in an artificial wetland - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 21, 2025,

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Preview of Environment Monitoring Systems & Data for Ecosystem Studies ..., accessed July 30, 2025,
Environment Monitoring Systems & Data for Ecosystem Studies ..., accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

TERN Ecosystem Surveillance & Environmental Monitoring Systems

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Preview of Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 16, 2025,
Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 10, 2025,

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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

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Preview of Guidelines for the management of water in mines and quarries - Resources Victoria, accessed July 24, 2025
Guidelines for the management of water in mines and quarries - Resources Victoria, accessed July 24, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Eastern Pilbara Water Resources Management Plan - EPA WA, accessed August 1, 2025

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Preview of Huntly Bauxite Mine – Water Quality Monitoring System Data Review - Alcoa, accessed July 16, 2025,
Huntly Bauxite Mine – Water Quality Monitoring System Data Review - Alcoa, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Huntly Bauxite Mine – Water Quality Monitoring System Data Review - Alcoa, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of impacts-of-carp-in-wetlands-fact-sheet-4-accessible.docx - Water and catchments, accessed July 16, 2025,
impacts-of-carp-in-wetlands-fact-sheet-4-accessible.docx - Water and catchments, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

impacts-of-carp-in-wetlands-fact-sheet-4-accessible.docx - Water and catchments, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Industrial Stormwater Monitoring and Sampling Guide - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accessed July 16, 2025,
Industrial Stormwater Monitoring and Sampling Guide - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source

Industrial Stormwater Monitoring and Sampling Guide - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Industry | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025,
Industry | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support

R&D Priorities – Australia's estuaries, embayments and nearshore marine environments, accessed July 24, 2025

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Preview of Performance Comparison of Structural Stormwater Best Management Practices | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,
Performance Comparison of Structural Stormwater Best Management Practices | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

Performance Comparison of Structural Stormwater Best Management Practices | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of River water quality: clarity and turbidity - Stats NZ
River water quality: clarity and turbidity - Stats NZ
Contextual Support Government

River water quality: clarity and turbidity - Stats NZ, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Turbidity | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 11, 2025,
Turbidity | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

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Preview of Turbidity measurement and monitoring in water quality analysis, accessed July 18, 2025,
Turbidity measurement and monitoring in water quality analysis, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Turbidity measurement and monitoring in water quality analysis, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Preview of Turbidity Measurement: A Simple, Effective Indicator of Water Quality Change, accessed July 16, 2025,
Turbidity Measurement: A Simple, Effective Indicator of Water Quality Change, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Turbidity Measurement: A Simple, Effective Indicator of Water Quality Change, accessed July 16, 2025,

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Water - BHP, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Water - CSIRO, accessed July 16, 2025,
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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

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Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,
Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Salinity | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 8, 2025,

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Preview of Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,
Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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Water Quality Protection Guidelines No. 5 - Government of Western ..., accessed July 24, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Journal

Assessment of Impacts of Coal Mining in the Region of Sydney, Australia on the Aquatic Environment Using Macroinvertebrates and Chlorophyll as Indicators

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Preview of WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR FRESH AND MARINE WATERS - DBCA Library, accessed July 16, 2025,
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR FRESH AND MARINE WATERS - DBCA Library, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

High turbidity leads to reduced light penetration, increased water temperature, decreased dissolved oxygen, and physical harm to aquatic biota.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-IND-WTU family.

10 NTU Moderate
Industrial & Infrastructure Use · Target Condition
MaximumOnly Active v1
36 NTU Low
Industrial & Infrastructure Use · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Retired v2