Water Nitrate

AUS-TDG-AGR-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

10.63 mg/L

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 10.63

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.

Evidence & Context

Concentrations exceeding 10.63 mg/L NO3− (the ANZG 2018 DGV) are likely to cause direct harm to aquatic life.

Metric Definition:

Maximum nitrate concentration threshold above which direct chronic toxicity to aquatic species is likely.

Benchmark Definition:

Maximum nitrate concentration threshold indicating significant risk of direct toxic effects on aquatic life.

Justification:

Based on the ANZG (2018) interim Default Guideline Value for chronic nitrate toxicity protection of 95% of freshwater species.

Sources (1)

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

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

Contextual Support 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

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

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 Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Exceedance of this threshold indicates a severely degraded ecological state with probable direct physiological harm to aquatic species.

Related Benchmarks

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