Water Turbidity

AUS-TMS-AQU-WTU General High confidence

Benchmark Value

4 NTU
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 4
Direction: Higher 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 Point form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The Darwin Harbour Region Report Card for 2020, which details the monitoring results against the established objectives, specifies the Water Quality Guideline Value (WQGV) for turbidity. For all three estuarine reporting zones—Upper, Mid, and Outer estuary—the guideline value is <4 NTU.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) as an indicator of water clarity relevant to aquatic ecosystem health in receiving waters of aquaculture operations.

Benchmark Definition:

Water turbidity benchmark defined as the Water Quality Guideline Value for Darwin Harbour estuarine zones to protect high environmental health.

Justification:

This value is derived from a robust, long-term government environmental monitoring program in the target biome and is legally recognized to protect aquatic ecosystem values including aquaculture.

Sources (2)

Preview of "Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region" (NT DEPWS 2020)
"Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region" (NT DEPWS 2020) Journal

Water quality objective for the darwin harbour region - Department of ...

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Preview of Darwin Harbour water quality report 2020 | Department of Lands, Planning and Environment
Darwin Harbour water quality report 2020 | Department of Lands, Planning and Environment Government

Darwin Harbour water quality report 2021 | Department of Lands ..., accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (33)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 23rd October 2012. Mr David Borthwick AO PSM The Department Agriculture Fisheries Forestry SUBMISSION – Review of Commonwealth - DAFF
23rd October 2012. Mr David Borthwick AO PSM The Department Agriculture Fisheries Forestry SUBMISSION – Review of Commonwealth - DAFF
Contextual Support Journal

23rd October 2012. Mr David Borthwick AO PSM The Department Agriculture Fisheries Forestry SUBMISSION – Review of Commonwealth - DAFF

View Source
Preview of 3.1. Water clarity around Australia – IMOS Ocean Report
3.1. Water clarity around Australia – IMOS Ocean Report
Contextual Support Government

3.1. Water clarity around Australia – IMOS Ocean Report

View Source
Preview of A review of water quality studies relevant to northern Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,
A review of water quality studies relevant to northern Australia - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Salinity and water quality

View Source
Preview of A Water Quality Protection Plan for Darwin Harbour region - MSSANZ
A Water Quality Protection Plan for Darwin Harbour region - MSSANZ
Direct Evidence Journal

A Water Quality Protection Plan for Darwin Harbour region - MSSANZ

View Source
Preview of ad-a271 059 - distribution of turbidity in australian tropical waters - DTIC
ad-a271 059 - distribution of turbidity in australian tropical waters - DTIC
Contextual Support

ad-a271 059 - distribution of turbidity in australian tropical waters - DTIC

View Source
Preview of ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Regulatory Framework Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

View Source
Preview of Aquaculture | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Aquaculture | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Contextual Support Government

Aquaculture | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

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,
Regulatory Framework Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Australian prawn farming manual Part 4-9.pdf
Australian prawn farming manual Part 4-9.pdf
Contextual Support

Effects of suspended solids in shrimp biofloc systems - Responsible Seafood Advocate, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of BAS-210 0023 Darwin Pipeline Duplication (DPD) Project – Trenching and Spoil Disposal Management and Monitoring Plan (TSDMMP) - Santos
BAS-210 0023 Darwin Pipeline Duplication (DPD) Project – Trenching and Spoil Disposal Management and Monitoring Plan (TSDMMP) - Santos
Contextual Support Journal

BAS-210 0023 Darwin Pipeline Duplication (DPD) Project – Trenching and Spoil Disposal Management and Monitoring Plan (TSDMMP) - Santos

View Source
Preview of Case study: Humpty Doo Barramundi - The Territory, Australia
Case study: Humpty Doo Barramundi - The Territory, Australia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Case study: Humpty Doo Barramundi - The Territory, Australia

View Source
Preview of Chapter 9 – Marine Environmental Quality | NTEPA
Chapter 9 – Marine Environmental Quality | NTEPA
Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 9 – Marine Environmental Quality | NTEPA

View Source
Preview of Clarity and colour - WetlandInfo, accessed August 12, 2025,
Clarity and colour - WetlandInfo, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Darwin Harbour water quality | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science
Darwin Harbour water quality | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science
Contextual Support Government

Darwin Harbour water quality | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PubMed Central, accessed July 16, 2025,
Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PubMed Central, accessed July 16, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management. Water, 15(8), 1589.

View Source
Preview of Development of regional water quality and catchment guidelines for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 30, 2025,
Development of regional water quality and catchment guidelines for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 30, 2025,
Regulatory Framework Journal

Defining reference condition for South Australian streams ... - EPA SA, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source
Preview of Dynamics of the turbidity maximum in King Sound, tropical Western Australia | Request PDF
Dynamics of the turbidity maximum in King Sound, tropical Western Australia | Request PDF
Contextual Support Journal

Dynamics of the turbidity maximum in King Sound, tropical Western Australia | Request PDF

View Source
Preview of Impacts of water resource development on tropical flow-dependent fisheries - CDU Research Webportal
Impacts of water resource development on tropical flow-dependent fisheries - CDU Research Webportal
Contextual Support

Impacts of water resource development on tropical flow-dependent fisheries - CDU Research Webportal

View Source
Preview of Kurnell Wharf Infrastructure Upgrade - Sediment and Water Quality Monitoring Program - Ampol
Kurnell Wharf Infrastructure Upgrade - Sediment and Water Quality Monitoring Program - Ampol
Contextual Support

Kurnell Wharf Infrastructure Upgrade - Sediment and Water Quality Monitoring Program - Ampol

View Source
Preview of Long-term spatial variations in turbidity and temperature provide new insights into coral-algal states on extreme/marginal reefs - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 2, 2025,
Long-term spatial variations in turbidity and temperature provide new insights into coral-algal states on extreme/marginal reefs - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Long-term spatial variations in turbidity and temperature provide new insights into coral-algal states on extreme/marginal reefs - ResearchOnline@JCU

View Source
Preview of Measuring High Levels of Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity Using Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) Multispectral Imagery - MDPI
Measuring High Levels of Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity Using Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) Multispectral Imagery - MDPI
Methodology Source Journal

Measuring High Levels of Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity Using Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) Multispectral Imagery - MDPI

View Source
Preview of National Aquaculture Statement
National Aquaculture Statement
Contextual Support Journal

National Aquaculture Statement

View Source
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 ...

View Source
Preview of NSW Marine Waters Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy
NSW Marine Waters Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy
Contextual Support Journal

Queensland Aquaculture Strategy 2024–2034, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Public Environmental Report Blackmore River (East) Aquaculture Development March 2001 for Phelps/Panizza Holdings Page 100 - NT EPA - Northern Territory Government
Public Environmental Report Blackmore River (East) Aquaculture Development March 2001 for Phelps/Panizza Holdings Page 100 - NT EPA - Northern Territory Government
Contextual Support Journal

Public Environmental Report Blackmore River (East) Aquaculture Development March 2001 for Phelps/Panizza Holdings Page 100 - NT EPA - Northern Territory Government

View Source
Preview of Queensland Aquaculture Strategy 2024–2034
Queensland Aquaculture Strategy 2024–2034
Contextual Support Journal

Best Pratice Environmental Management Guidelines for Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, accessed July 21, 2025

View Source
Preview of Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009, accessed July 21, 2025,
Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009, accessed July 21, 2025,
Regulatory Framework Journal

Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009

View Source
Preview of Review of Nutrient Release from Aquaculture ... - Griffith University, accessed August 1, 2025
Review of Nutrient Release from Aquaculture ... - Griffith University, accessed August 1, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Review of Nutrient Release from Aquaculture Activities Final Report - Griffith University

View Source
Preview of STUDIES ON TURBIDITY IN RELATION TO SUSPENDED SOLID, VELOCITY, TEMPERATURE, PH, CONDUCTIVITY, COLOUR AND TIME
STUDIES ON TURBIDITY IN RELATION TO SUSPENDED SOLID, VELOCITY, TEMPERATURE, PH, CONDUCTIVITY, COLOUR AND TIME
Contextual Support Journal

STUDIES ON TURBIDITY IN RELATION TO SUSPENDED SOLID, VELOCITY, TEMPERATURE, PH, CONDUCTIVITY, COLOUR AND TIME

View Source
Preview of Turbidity Measurement Methods - In-Situ
Turbidity Measurement Methods - In-Situ
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Turbidity Measurement Methods - In-Situ

View Source
Preview of Understanding the Influence of Suspended Solids on Water Quality and Aquatic Biota | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Understanding the Influence of Suspended Solids on Water Quality and Aquatic Biota | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding the Influence of Suspended Solids on Water Quality and Aquatic Biota | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
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,
Regulatory Framework Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Water Pollution and the Reef Protection Regulations - Q&A
Water Pollution and the Reef Protection Regulations - Q&A
Regulatory Framework GreyLiterature

Water Pollution and the Reef Protection Regulations - Q&A

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Aquaculture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 16 Mar 2026

Notes

The benchmark represents the target condition for receiving waters of best-practice aquaculture operations in the Tropical Monsoonal Savannas biome.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-AQU-WTU family.

5 NTU Moderate
Aquaculture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1
— NTU Low
Aquaculture · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
— NTU Moderate
Aquaculture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1