Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-ASC-URB-WEC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

350 µS/cm

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 350

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 14 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 13 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

This aligns with the ANZECC (2000) default upper trigger value of 350 µS/cm for upland rivers, which should be considered a limit for ecosystem degradation, not a target for management.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) as a measure of ionic strength in water.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the regulatory upper trigger value for water electrical conductivity in upland rivers, indicating a limit beyond which ecosystem degradation may occur.

Justification:

This regulatory guideline is intended to prompt further investigation when exceeded, indicating potential environmental harm.

Supporting Sources (17)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

Preview of Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments, accessed August 28, 2025,

Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments

Preview of Chapter 2 - Parliament of Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

Chapter 2 - Parliament of Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Chapter 2 - Parliament of Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Cutting down on salt - Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, accessed August 28, 2025,

Cutting down on salt - Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Cutting down on salt - Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - La Trobe University, accessed August 28, 2025,

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - La Trobe University, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - La Trobe University, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Environmental Impacts of Tourism on the Australian Alps Protected Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

Environmental Impacts of Tourism on the Australian Alps Protected Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Impacts of Tourism on the Australian Alps Protected Areas - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Impacts of urbanisation on hydrological and water quality dynamics, and urban water management: a review - Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange, accessed August 28, 2025,

Impacts of urbanisation on hydrological and water quality dynamics, and urban water management: a review - Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support

Impacts of urbanisation on hydrological and water quality dynamics, and urban water management: a review - Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Issues affecting water quality, accessed August 28, 2025,

Issues affecting water quality, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Issues affecting water quality, accessed August 28, 2025,

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 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 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

Direct Evidence 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 The impact of urban footprint on water quality - Analysis & Policy Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025,

The impact of urban footprint on water quality - Analysis & Policy Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The impact of urban footprint on water quality - Analysis & Policy Observatory, 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

Contextual Support Government

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

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 2
Effective From 16 Mar 2026
Effective To 16 Mar 2026

Notes

This is a regulatory upper trigger value for upland rivers.

Related Benchmarks

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