Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-IND-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

350 µS/cm

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 350

Direction: Lower 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

According to the guideline framework, exceeding the upper trigger value of 350 µS/cm indicates a potential for harmful environmental effects to occur, necessitating further site-specific investigation.

Metric Definition:

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

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the upper electrical conductivity threshold beyond which Australian alpine aquatic ecosystems may experience harmful environmental effects.

Justification:

There is strong evidence from biological studies and regulatory frameworks identifying this upper EC threshold as critical for ecosystem health.

Supporting Sources (23)

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 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

Contextual Support 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,

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 Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Retired
Version 1
Effective From 16 Mar 2026
Effective To 24 Mar 2026

Notes

The upper threshold is supported by field-observed biological impact at 390 µS/cm and aligns with national water quality guidelines. Retired via Evidence Integrity Review on 2026-03-24 09:41 UTC — all DirectEvidence sources confirmed dead or inaccessible.

Related Benchmarks

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