Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMS-LVG-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

180 µS/cm
Range: 20 to 180 µS/cm
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 180
Optimal Range: 20 to 180
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 2 benchmarks together — the MaximumOnly form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

MaximumOnly Primary MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on national guidelines and data from reference ecosystems, an EC value of ≤ 180 μS/cm (representing the 80th percentile for upland tropical rivers from ANZECC & ARMCANZ 2000) is proposed as a defensible upper benchmark for the 'best' available condition.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) is a fundamental measure of the total concentration of dissolved ionic solutes in water.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum acceptable water electrical conductivity (EC) level for maintaining high environmental health in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas under livestock grazing, based on reference ecosystem data and national guidelines.

Justification:

The benchmark of 180 µS/cm represents the 80th percentile of reference site data for upland tropical rivers in slightly disturbed condition (ANZECC 26 ARMCANZ 2000, Table 3.3.5), serving as a robust upper limit for "best available condition" under best-practice sustainable grazing in Tropical Monsoonal Savannas.

Sources (1)

Preview of ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025 Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

View Source

Supporting Sources (19)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,
(PDF) Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Water Requirements of Vallisneria nana in the Daly River, Northern Territory1 | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,
Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Water Quality Guidelines Assessing discharges from a uranium ...

View Source
Preview of Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

ANZECC (2000) Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality.

View Source
Preview of Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Methodology Source Government

Water Quality Guidelines Home - Water Quality Australia

View Source
Preview of Diatom–water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,
Diatom–water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,
Cross Reference

Validating species sensitivity distributions using salinity tolerance of riverine macroinvertebrates in the southern Murray–Darling Basin (Victoria, Australia) - Canadian Science Publishing

View Source
Preview of environment.des.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
environment.des.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water quality monitoring in Cape York streams June to August 2021 - Queensland Environment Department, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025
Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed July 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of GBA Explorer, accessed May 14, 2025,
GBA Explorer, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

GBA Explorer, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Newaukum Creek Basin Characterization Project Report - King County, accessed May 14, 2025,
Newaukum Creek Basin Characterization Project Report - King County, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Newaukum Creek Basin Characterization Project Report - King County, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
Preview of nt.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
nt.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Document - Department for Infrastructure and Transport, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nutrient loadings and deforestation decrease benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in an urbanised tropical stream system | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,
Nutrient loadings and deforestation decrease benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in an urbanised tropical stream system | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient loadings and deforestation decrease benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in an urbanised tropical stream system | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
Preview of papers.acg.uwa.edu.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
papers.acg.uwa.edu.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

papers.acg.uwa.edu.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Recommended environmental water requirements for the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on ecological, hydrological and biological principles - DCCEEW, accessed May 14, 2025,
Recommended environmental water requirements for the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on ecological, hydrological and biological principles - DCCEEW, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Recommended environmental water requirements for the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on ecological, hydrological and biological principles - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna - Frontiers, accessed May 14, 2025,
Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna - Frontiers, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Cross Reference Journal

Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna - Frontiers, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna, accessed May 14, 2025,
Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna, accessed May 14, 2025,
Cross Reference Journal

Setting thresholds of ecosystem structure and function to protect streams of the Brazilian savanna, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
Preview of tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 11, 2025,
tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Water quality for livestock | Agriculture and Food, accessed May 14, 2025,
Water quality for livestock | Agriculture and Food, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Water quality for livestock | Agriculture and Food, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
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

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Optimal EC range for high environmental health spans from 20 to 180 µS/cm. Values consistently above 180 µS/cm indicate potential ecological stress.