Water Nitrate

AUS-TDG-AGR-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.2 mg/L

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0.2

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: UpperThreshold

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

sustained concentrations exceeding 0.2 mg/L NO3− (derived from the SE Australian DTV of 0.040 mg/L N) could be considered indicative of an increased risk of eutrophication and a departure from high environmental health.

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration above which there is an increased risk of eutrophication.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the upper threshold of water nitrate concentration beyond which there is an increased risk of eutrophication and decline in environmental health.

Justification:

Based on ANZECC (2000) regional nutrient guidelines and general eutrophication science.

Sources (2)

Preview of Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025

Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025 Journal

Hickey, C. (2002). Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000. Memorandum MFE02237 prepared for Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand). NIWA Client Report: HAM2002-126.

View Source

Preview of tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 11, 2025,

tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 11, 2025, Journal

Palaeovalley Groundwater Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Australia - Geoscience Australia, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Turbidity in Surface Water 14 Rehabilitation Standard for the Ranger uranium mine - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

ANZG (2018) Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality

View Source

webcat.niwa.co.nz, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support

webcat.niwa.co.nz, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Sustained concentrations exceeding 0.2 - 0.5 mg/L are considered detrimental. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-AGR-WNI family.