Water Nitrate
Benchmark Value
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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
a proposed reference range for water nitrate, reflecting the "best available condition" and "high environmental health" in streams draining regenerative agricultural crop production areas within Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands, is <0.1 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L NO3−.
Water nitrate concentration reflecting the best available condition of nature and high environmental health achievable within Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands that are actively managed for sustainable or regenerative agricultural crop production.
This benchmark represents the best available condition for water nitrate levels in streams within Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands under regenerative agricultural crop production, indicating high environmental health.
Synthesized from ANZECC (2000) regional DTVs for NOx in slightly disturbed temperate lowland rivers, nitrate levels in pristine/minimally impacted catchments, and the goals of regenerative agriculture.
Sources (2)
Hickey, C. (2002). Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000. Memorandum MFE02237 prepared for Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand). NIWA Client Report: HAM2002-126.
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Palaeovalley Groundwater Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Australia - Geoscience Australia, accessed July 31, 2025,
View SourceSupporting Sources (2)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
ANZG (2018) Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality
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webcat.niwa.co.nz, accessed May 11, 2025
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