Water Nitrate
Benchmark Value
Scoring Curve
The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.
Evidence & Context
An optimal range for water nitrate in this context is considered to be similar to the reference benchmark, tentatively proposed as 0.02 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L NO3−.
Water nitrate concentration that balances high ecological integrity with the realities of agricultural production.
This benchmark defines an optimal range for water nitrate that balances ecological health with agricultural production realities in the specified biome and land use.
This range supports natural ecosystem functions while preventing eutrophication.
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,
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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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