Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-IND-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

61.1 µS/cm

Range: — to 61.1 µS/cm

Optimal Range: — to 61.1

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

The maximum electrical conductivity observed in streams receiving runoff from salted roads was 61.1 µS/cm. Critically, the researchers concluded that these lower EC values and the shorter duration of the salinity increases "were not expected to cause an adverse biological response".

Metric Definition:

Electrical Conductivity (EC) of water, a direct measure of the concentration of dissolved ionic salts.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the highest electrical conductivity observed in streams affected by road salting under best-practice management in the Australian alpine biome, indicating a level not expected to cause adverse biological effects.

Justification:

This value is a field-verified representation of the highest achievable environmental health under current, real-world operational constraints for infrastructure in this biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - University of Canberra Research Portal

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - University of Canberra Research Portal Journal

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - University of Canberra Research Portal, accessed August 28, 2025,

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

(PDF) The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

Direct Evidence

(PDF) The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas - ResearchGate, accessed on May 31, 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 review of the impacts of pumped hydro energy storage construction on subalpine and alpine biodiversity - ANU Open Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

A review of the impacts of pumped hydro energy storage construction on subalpine and alpine biodiversity - ANU Open Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support

A review of the impacts of pumped hydro energy storage construction on subalpine and alpine biodiversity - ANU Open Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Assessment of Impacts of Coal Mining in the Region of Sydney, Australia on the Aquatic Environment Using Macroinvertebrates and Chlorophyll as Indicators, accessed August 17, 2025,

Assessment of Impacts of Coal Mining in the Region of Sydney, Australia on the Aquatic Environment Using Macroinvertebrates and Chlorophyll as Indicators, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessment of Impacts of Coal Mining in the Region of Sydney, Australia on the Aquatic Environment Using Macroinvertebrates and Chlorophyll as Indicators, accessed July 13, 2025,

Preview of Assessment of the Impact of Coal Mining on Water Resources in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Using Different Water Quality Indices - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Assessment of the Impact of Coal Mining on Water Resources in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Using Different Water Quality Indices - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessment of the Impact of Coal Mining on Water Resources in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Using Different Water Quality Indices - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Assessment of the Values of Kosciuszko National Park (Chapter 8), accessed August 17, 2025,

Assessment of the Values of Kosciuszko National Park (Chapter 8), accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support

Assessment of the Values of Kosciuszko National Park (Chapter 8), accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Ecosystems and biodiversity – Climate Adaptation - CSIRO Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

Ecosystems and biodiversity – Climate Adaptation - CSIRO Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Ecosystems and biodiversity – Climate Adaptation - CSIRO Research, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Full article: Monitoring and assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water of selected rivers - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 17, 2025,

Full article: Monitoring and assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water of selected rivers - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support

Full article: Monitoring and assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water of selected rivers - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Impact of Construction and Functioning of a Newly Built Ski Slope on the Quality of Nearby Stream Water - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Impact of Construction and Functioning of a Newly Built Ski Slope on the Quality of Nearby Stream Water - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impact of Construction and Functioning of a Newly Built Ski Slope on the Quality of Nearby Stream Water - MDPI, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of Management of major ions in freshwater ecosystems: thresholds of impact and indicators of change - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 17, 2025,

Management of major ions in freshwater ecosystems: thresholds of impact and indicators of change - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Comparison of two commonly used methods for identifying water ..., accessed August 8, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring and reporting - WaterNSW, accessed August 17, 2025,

Monitoring and reporting - WaterNSW, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Monitoring and reporting - WaterNSW, accessed August 17, 2025,

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,

Regulatory Framework 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,

Regulatory Framework

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

Preview of pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, accessed August 17, 2025, )%20of%202016%20to%202018.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, accessed August 17, 2025, )%20of%202016%20to%202018.

Contextual Support Journal

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, accessed August 17, 2025, )%20of%202016%20to%202018.

Preview of Review of water quality studies in the Australian Alps, accessed August 17, 2025,

Review of water quality studies in the Australian Alps, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Review of water quality studies in the Australian Alps, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of The ecological effects of new roads-a literature review - Department of Conservation, accessed August 17, 2025,

The ecological effects of new roads-a literature review - Department of Conservation, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The ecological effects of new roads-a literature review - Department of Conservation, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and ..., accessed August 17, 2025,

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and ..., accessed August 17, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

The Effects of Road De-icing Salts on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates in Australian Alpine Areas, 16

Preview of water catchment - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 17, 2025,

water catchment - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

water catchment - Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Water Chemistry and Aquatic Ecology study on the effects of waste water discharges from Springvale and Angus Place Collieries on - Environmental Justice Australia, accessed August 17, 2025,

Water Chemistry and Aquatic Ecology study on the effects of waste water discharges from Springvale and Angus Place Collieries on - Environmental Justice Australia, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water Chemistry and Aquatic Ecology study on the effects of waste water discharges from Springvale and Angus Place Collieries on - Environmental Justice Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025

Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025

Regulatory Framework Government

(PDF) Impact of mitigated forestry activities on turbidity: assessing ..., accessed August 10, 2025

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

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

Regulatory Framework Journal

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

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Target Condition
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 16 Mar 2026

Notes

The value of 61.1 µS/cm is a real-world field measurement from a site operating under the specified land use within the correct biome, demonstrating that best-practice management can maintain EC below harmful levels.

Related Benchmarks

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