Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-IND-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1500 µS/cm

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 1500

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: UpperThreshold

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

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.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

Beyond 1000 mg/L (approximately 1500 μS/cm), broad-scale, direct adverse biological effects become likely across a wide range of biota. Reviews of salt sensitivity indicate that at these levels, most freshwater macrophytes are lost, and significant negative impacts on invertebrate communities are widespread.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold of EC beyond which widespread adverse biological effects occur.

Benchmark Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold of Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) beyond which widespread adverse biological effects occur in temperate grassy woodlands and plains under industrial land use.

Justification:

Based on reviews of salt sensitivity and observed biological impacts.

Sources (2)

Preview of (PDF) A review of the salt sensitivity of the Australian freshwater biota, accessed August 11, 2025,

(PDF) A review of the salt sensitivity of the Australian freshwater biota, accessed August 11, 2025, Journal

Salinity Tolerances of Freshwater Macroinvertebrates

Preview of (PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025, Journal

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme (HRSTS) - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

(PDF) Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme (HRSTS) - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

(PDF) Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme (HRSTS) - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of 1.5.2.1 Surface water - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

1.5.2.1 Surface water - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of 5.9 Conductivity | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 11, 2025,

5.9 Conductivity | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

5.9 Conductivity | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government

Preview of Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting, accessed August 11, 2025,

Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate

Preview of Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Percentage compliance with ANZECC water quality trigger values for aquatic ecosystems, primary contact recreation and secondary

Preview of National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,

National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ...

Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Preview of Protection of the Environment Operations (Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme) Regulation 2002, accessed August 11, 2025,

Protection of the Environment Operations (Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme) Regulation 2002, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Protection of the Environment Operations (Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme) Regulation 2002, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence 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

Preview of Salinity in the Hunter Regulated River - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

Salinity in the Hunter Regulated River - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Salinity in the Hunter Regulated River - Bioregional Assessments |, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Salinity sensitivity in early life stages of an Australian freshwater fish, Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii Mitchell 1838) - University of Canberra Research Portal, accessed August 11, 2025,

Salinity sensitivity in early life stages of an Australian freshwater fish, Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii Mitchell 1838) - University of Canberra Research Portal, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii Mitchell 1838) - University of Canberra Research Portal

Preview of Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - Tuvalu Environment Data Portal, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Water Pollution Control Policy: Addressing Non-Point Source Pollution - Inquiries Journal, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water Pollution Control Policy: Addressing Non-Point Source Pollution - Inquiries Journal, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Journal

Water Pollution Control Policy: Addressing Non-Point Source Pollution - Inquiries Journal, accessed August 11, 2025

Preview of Water quality - Healthy Waterways Strategy, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality - Healthy Waterways Strategy, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality - Healthy Waterways Strategy, accessed August 12, 2025,

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

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)

Preview of Water Quality Guidelines Level of protection, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water Quality Guidelines Level of protection, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Water quality indicator: Electrical conductivity - Queen Mary University of London, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality indicator: Electrical conductivity - Queen Mary University of London, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ...

Preview of Water-Quality-Salinity-Standards.pdf, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water-Quality-Salinity-Standards.pdf, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

What Is The Typical Water Conductivity Range? - Atlas Scientific, accessed July 13, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 3
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

At these levels, most freshwater macrophytes are lost and significant negative impacts on invertebrate communities are widespread.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-IND-WEC family.