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
Based on the synthesis of the aforementioned lines of evidence, 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 in streams draining regenerative agricultural crop production areas within Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands.
This benchmark defines the reference range for water nitrate concentration representing the best available condition and high environmental health in streams within the specified biome and agricultural crop production land use.
Derived from synthesis of 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 to minimize nutrient leakage.
Sources (1)
ANZG (2018) Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality
View SourceSupporting Sources (3)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
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
Palaeovalley Groundwater Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Australia - Geoscience Australia, accessed July 31, 2025,
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webcat.niwa.co.nz, accessed May 11, 2025
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