Water Nitrate

AUS-TMS-FOR-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.037 mg/L

Range: 0.019 to 0.037 mg/L

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0.037

Optimal Range: 0.019 to 0.037

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

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 2 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark value is 0.037 mg/L, expressed as Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (N).

Metric Definition:

Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) concentration in water, including nitrate and ammonium forms.

Benchmark Definition:

Mean concentration of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) in pristine tropical savanna catchments.

Justification:

Derived from a scientifically robust proxy (pristine catchments) rather than direct measurements from forestry sites, consistent with ANZG framework guidelines.

Sources (2)

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, accessed August 2, 2025,

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, accessed August 2, 2025,

National Guidelines for Water Quality | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Preview of Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna

Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna Journal

Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna - PubMed, accessed July 24, 2025,

Supporting Sources (36)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Nitrate in groundwaters of intensive agricultural areas in coastal Northeastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

(PDF) Nitrate in groundwaters of intensive agricultural areas in coastal Northeastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nitrate in groundwaters of intensive agricultural areas in coastal Northeastern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025,

Preview of (PDF) Towards understanding the impacts of land management on ..., accessed May 11, 2025,

(PDF) Towards understanding the impacts of land management on ..., accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Towards understanding the impacts of land management on productivity in the Daly River - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia's Northern Tropical Rivers - Report 5 - Water quality - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia's Northern Tropical Rivers - Report 5 - Water quality - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Threshold Indicator Taxa ANalysis and change points (dots) for the ...

Preview of Big fires and their ecological impacts in Australian savannas: size and frequency matters | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Big fires and their ecological impacts in Australian savannas: size and frequency matters | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Big fires and their ecological impacts in Australian savannas: size and frequency matters | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 24, 2025

Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 24, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research

Preview of Effect of fire and tree‐grass patches on soil nitrogen in Australian tropical savannas

Effect of fire and tree‐grass patches on soil nitrogen in Australian tropical savannas

Contextual Support Journal

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic ..., accessed May 13, 2025,

Preview of Environmental impacts of nitrate pollution - Aquamonitrix, accessed July 24, 2025,

Environmental impacts of nitrate pollution - Aquamonitrix, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environmental impacts of nitrate pollution - Aquamonitrix® - Nitrate and Nitrite Analyser, accessed May 11, 2025,

Preview of Factors affecting forest health, accessed August 9, 2025

Factors affecting forest health, accessed August 9, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Fire in Australian savannas: from leaf to landscape - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 24, 2025,

Fire in Australian savannas: from leaf to landscape - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Fire in Australian savannas: from leaf to landscape - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Regulatory Framework

Guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of KEY INDUSTRIES IN AUSTRALIA'S TROPICAL SAVANNA Natalie Stoeckl Owen Stanley - ANZRSAI, accessed July 24, 2025,

KEY INDUSTRIES IN AUSTRALIA'S TROPICAL SAVANNA Natalie Stoeckl Owen Stanley - ANZRSAI, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

KEY INDUSTRIES IN AUSTRALIA'S TROPICAL SAVANNA Natalie Stoeckl Owen Stanley - ANZRSAI, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Living in polluted waters: A meta-analysis of the effects of nitrate and interactions with other environmental stressors on freshwater taxa - PubMed, accessed August 17, 2025,

Living in polluted waters: A meta-analysis of the effects of nitrate and interactions with other environmental stressors on freshwater taxa - PubMed, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Living in polluted waters: A meta-analysis of the effects of nitrate and ...

Preview of Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025

Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Hickey, C. (2002). Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000. Memorandum MFE02237 prepared for Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand). NIWA Client Report: HAM2002-126.

Preview of New resources available for best practice weed management - DAFF, accessed July 24, 2025,

New resources available for best practice weed management - DAFF, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Northern Savannas - Greening Australia

Preview of Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025

Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Nitrate - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of Nutrient enrichment diminishes plant diversity and density, and alters long-term ecological trajectories, in a biodiverse forest restoration - CentAUR, accessed July 24, 2025,

Nutrient enrichment diminishes plant diversity and density, and alters long-term ecological trajectories, in a biodiverse forest restoration - CentAUR, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient enrichment diminishes plant diversity and density, and alters long-term ecological trajectories, in a biodiverse forest restoration - CentAUR, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Nutrient enrichment, biodiversity loss, and consequent declines in ecosystem productivity, accessed July 24, 2025,

Nutrient enrichment, biodiversity loss, and consequent declines in ecosystem productivity, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient enrichment, biodiversity loss, and consequent declines in ecosystem productivity, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Nutrient enrichment, propagule pressure, and herbivory interactively influence the competitive ability of an invasive alien macrophyte Myriophyllum aquaticum - PMC, accessed July 24, 2025,

Nutrient enrichment, propagule pressure, and herbivory interactively influence the competitive ability of an invasive alien macrophyte Myriophyllum aquaticum - PMC, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient enrichment, propagule pressure, and herbivory interactively influence the competitive ability of an invasive alien macrophyte Myriophyllum aquaticum - PMC, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Nutrient limitation in tropical savannas across multiple scales and mechanisms - PubMed, accessed July 24, 2025,

Nutrient limitation in tropical savannas across multiple scales and mechanisms - PubMed, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient limitation in tropical savannas across multiple scales and mechanisms - PubMed, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Nutrient limitation in tropical savannas across multiple scales and mechanisms, accessed July 24, 2025,

Nutrient limitation in tropical savannas across multiple scales and mechanisms, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil pH | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed May 20, 2025

Preview of Recommended environmental water requirements for the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on ecological, hydrological and biological principles - DCCEEW, accessed May 14, 2025,

Recommended environmental water requirements for the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on ecological, hydrological and biological principles - DCCEEW, accessed May 14, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Recommended environmental water requirements for the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on ecological, hydrological and biological principles - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025

River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of The 'wet–dry' in the wet–dry tropics drives river ecosystem structure and processes in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

The 'wet–dry' in the wet–dry tropics drives river ecosystem structure and processes in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The 'wet–dry' in the wet–dry tropics drives river ecosystem structure and processes in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU, accessed July 20, 2025

The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU, accessed July 20, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition Report, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of The effects of forest management on water quality | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025,

The effects of forest management on water quality | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The effects of forest management on water quality | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

Preview of The reference condition: predicting benchmarks for ecological and water-quality assessments | Journal of the North American Benthological Society: Vol 29, No 1, accessed July 24, 2025,

The reference condition: predicting benchmarks for ecological and water-quality assessments | Journal of the North American Benthological Society: Vol 29, No 1, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The reference condition: predicting benchmarks for ecological and water-quality assessments | Journal of the North American Benthological Society: Vol 29, No 1, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Timber Harvesting in Mountainous Regions: A Comprehensive Review - MDPI, accessed July 24, 2025,

Timber Harvesting in Mountainous Regions: A Comprehensive Review - MDPI, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Use selective harvesting instead of clearcutting - Conservation Evidence

Preview of Tree water use and soil water dynamics in savannas of northern Australia, accessed July 24, 2025,

Tree water use and soil water dynamics in savannas of northern Australia, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Tree water use and soil water dynamics in savannas of northern Australia, accessed July 24, 2025,

Preview of Water Infrastructure Code of Practice - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 24, 2025

Water Infrastructure Code of Practice - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 24, 2025

Regulatory Framework Journal

Water Infrastructure Code of Practice - Wet Tropics Management ..., accessed July 24, 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,

Regulatory Framework 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,

Regulatory Framework Government

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

Preview of Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 24, 2025,

Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 24, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fire regime impacts on soil microbes, soil organic carbon and ground cover in an Australian tropical savanna - CSIRO Publishing

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

The benchmark represents the natural background nitrogen level; any sustained concentration above this indicates nutrient subsidy and ecological risk. No lower critical threshold exists as the ecosystem is naturally nitrogen-limited.