Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TMS-AGR-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

200 µS/cm
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 200
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 3 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

However, even in such areas, the EC should not exceed 200 μS/cm (annual median). This upper cap is aligned with the protective Water Quality Objective established for the Darwin Harbour Region by the NT EPA, which is based on the 80th percentile of reference site data and aims to safeguard ecosystem health.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) upper cap for surface waters in agricultural landscapes with naturally higher background EC.

Benchmark Definition:

An upper protective cap for EC in surface waters to maintain good ecological health in tropical monsoonal savannas under agricultural crop production.

Justification:

Based on the NT EPA Darwin Harbour Region Water Quality Objective derived from the 80th percentile of reference site data.

Sources (1)

Preview of environment.nt.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,
environment.nt.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025, Journal

Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

View Source

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Towards understanding the impacts of land management on ..., accessed May 11, 2025,
(PDF) Towards understanding the impacts of land management on ..., accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support

(PDF) Towards understanding the impacts of land management on productivity in the Daly River - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

View Source
Preview of A longitudinal survey of the water quality of the Katherine and Daly Rivers, May/June 2016, accessed May 11, 2025,
A longitudinal survey of the water quality of the Katherine and Daly Rivers, May/June 2016, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support

A longitudinal survey of the water quality of the Katherine and Daly Rivers, May/June 2016, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - Consultas Ciudadanas, accessed May 11, 2025,
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - Consultas Ciudadanas, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - Consultas Ciudadanas, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed May 11, 2025,
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000), accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Journal

Northern Territory Government (2020) Darwin Harbour Region Water Quality Objectives, Report Card Section 3.0.

View Source
Preview of Deriving guideline values using field-effects data - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 11, 2025,
Deriving guideline values using field-effects data - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support

Deriving guideline values using field-effects data - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 11, 2025,

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,
Direct Evidence

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 DRYLAND SALINITY IN AUSTRALIA—Summary - Inside Cotton, accessed May 11, 2025,
DRYLAND SALINITY IN AUSTRALIA—Summary - Inside Cotton, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

DRYLAND SALINITY IN AUSTRALIA—Summary - Inside Cotton, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Food, Climate & Regenerative Farming FAQ - The Nature Conservancy, accessed May 11, 2025,
Food, Climate & Regenerative Farming FAQ - The Nature Conservancy, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support

Food, Climate & Regenerative Farming FAQ - The Nature Conservancy

View Source
Preview of Gross primary productivity and water use efficiency are increasing in a high rainfall tropical savanna - PubMed Central, accessed May 11, 2025,
Gross primary productivity and water use efficiency are increasing in a high rainfall tropical savanna - PubMed Central, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support

Gross primary productivity and water use efficiency are increasing in a high rainfall tropical savanna - PubMed Central, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NCC: Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health - Wet Tropics Plan, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Retrieving understorey dynamics in the Australian tropical savannah from time series decomposition and linear unmixing of MODIS data | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,
Retrieving understorey dynamics in the Australian tropical savannah from time series decomposition and linear unmixing of MODIS data | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support

Retrieving understorey dynamics in the Australian tropical savannah from time series decomposition and linear unmixing of MODIS data | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,
Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Basin Plan water quality targets; Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZG 2018/ANZECC 2000); Australia State of the Environment 2021: Inland water

View Source
Preview of SSR179 - Baseline suspended-sediment, solute, EC ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 11, 2025,
SSR179 - Baseline suspended-sediment, solute, EC ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 11, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

SSR179 - Baseline suspended-sediment, solute, EC ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Stream Baseflows in the Daly Basin - CiteSeerX, accessed May 11, 2025,
Stream Baseflows in the Daly Basin - CiteSeerX, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence

Stream Baseflows in the Daly Basin - CiteSeerX, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Surface water chemistry monitoring protocol to assess impacts from the Ranger Mine (DOCX 1.7 MB) - DCCEEW, accessed May 11, 2025,
Surface water chemistry monitoring protocol to assess impacts from the Ranger Mine (DOCX 1.7 MB) - DCCEEW, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source

Surface water chemistry monitoring protocol to assess impacts from the Ranger Mine (DOCX 1.7 MB) - DCCEEW, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Understanding the Impact of Intensive Horticulture Land-Use Practices on Surface Water Quality in Central Kenya - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,
Understanding the Impact of Intensive Horticulture Land-Use Practices on Surface Water Quality in Central Kenya - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Cross Reference

Understanding the Impact of Intensive Horticulture Land-Use Practices on Surface Water Quality in Central Kenya - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,
Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Drivers of water quality in Afromontane-savanna rivers - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Water resource assessment for the Roper catchment. A ... - CSIRO, accessed May 11, 2025,
Water resource assessment for the Roper catchment. A ... - CSIRO, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water resource assessment for the Roper catchment. A ... - CSIRO, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
  • Evidence Type RegulatoryTrigger

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Applies to areas with naturally higher background EC due to local geology.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-AGR-WEC family.

— µS/cm Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
OptimalRange Active v1
200 µS/cm Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
MinimumOnly Active v1
50 µS/cm Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Superseded v1