Water Nitrate

AUS-TGP-IND-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.4 mg/L

Range: 0.1 to 0.4 mg/L

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 1.6

Optimal Range: 0.1 to 0.4

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.

Evidence & Context

Therefore, a reference value of 0.4 mg/L for Nitrate (as NO 3) is proposed as the benchmark for high environmental health in water bodies within industrial landscapes of the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome.

Metric Definition:

Concentration of Nitrate (as NO 3) in water bodies within industrial landscapes of the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the nitrate concentration threshold for maintaining high environmental health in water bodies within industrial landscapes of the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome. Values above 0.4 mg/L indicate potential ecological risk and warrant management action.

Justification:

The value is based on the ANZECC (2000) default trigger value for Total Nitrogen (TN) of 0.5 mg/L for lowland rivers in SE Australia, which applies to 'slightly-moderately disturbed systems'. This TN value is set to be protective against the primary risk of eutrophication. A benchmark of 0.4 mg/L for nitrate (as NO3) sits conservatively within this overall nitrogen budget and is considered achievable with modern industrial best practices.

Sources (2)

Preview of Orica's and De Beers collaboration results in a 78.85% decrease in nitrate concentrations

Orica's and De Beers collaboration results in a 78.85% decrease in nitrate concentrations GreyLiterature

Orica's and De Beers collaboration results in a 78.85% decrease in nitrate concentrations, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025 Journal

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025

5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025

Contextual Support Government

5.7 Nitrates | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025

A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Soil moisture release curves—What they are. Why you need them. How to use them., accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

A GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE ANZECC ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government

Preview of Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water - Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of Case study: Helping our customers reduce their environmental and social impacts - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Case study: Helping our customers reduce their environmental and social impacts - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Case study: Helping our customers reduce their environmental and social impacts - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Categories - Water quality - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 16, 2025,

Categories - Water quality - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Data Home, accessed July 25, 2025,

Preview of Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025

Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Report Card 2022-23 - EPA Victoria

Preview of Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,

Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Establishment of reference conditions and trigger values for chemical, physical and micro-biological indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Establishment of reference conditions and trigger values for chemical, physical and micro-biological indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)

Preview of Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Is there a close association between 'soils' and 'vegetation'? A case study from central western New South Wales, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Introduction of Industry Best Practices & Technical Solutions to Reduce Nitrates in Groundwater. - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Introduction of Industry Best Practices & Technical Solutions to Reduce Nitrates in Groundwater. - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Introduction of Industry Best Practices & Technical Solutions to Reduce Nitrates in Groundwater. - Orica, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF

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 and nitrite in Drinking-water - World Health Organization (WHO), accessed August 11, 2025,

Nitrate and nitrite in Drinking-water - World Health Organization (WHO), accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate and nitrite in Drinking-water - World Health Organization (WHO), accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Nitrate toxicity to aquatic animals: a review with new data for freshwater invertebrates - State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 11, 2025,

Nitrate toxicity to aquatic animals: a review with new data for freshwater invertebrates - State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate toxicity to aquatic animals: a review with new data for freshwater invertebrates - State Water Resources Control Board, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Nitrate Water Quality Guidelines, accessed August 5, 2025

Nitrate Water Quality Guidelines, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate Water Quality Guidelines, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025,

Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish - PMC, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Simultaneous exposure to nitrate and low pH reduces the blood oxygen-carrying capacity and functional performance of a freshwater fish - PMC, accessed July 13, 2025,

Preview of TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,

TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Great Western Woodlands TERN SuperSite: ecosystem monitoring infrastructure and key science learnings, accessed May 19, 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 Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Understanding links between water-quality variables and nitrate concentration in freshwater streams using high frequency sensor data - PubMed Central, accessed August 11, 2025,

Understanding links between water-quality variables and nitrate concentration in freshwater streams using high frequency sensor data - PubMed Central, accessed August 11, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Understanding links between water-quality variables and nitrate concentration in freshwater streams using high frequency sensor data - PubMed Central, accessed July 13, 2025,

Preview of Vol 1 The Guidelines - NATIONAL WATER QUALITY ... - EPA SA, accessed August 11, 2025,

Vol 1 The Guidelines - NATIONAL WATER QUALITY ... - EPA SA, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

australian and 4 new zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality 2000 - EPA SA, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Water quality - Dataset - SEED - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality - Dataset - SEED - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality - Dataset - SEED - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 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,

Contextual Support Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)

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

Preview of Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

National Guidelines for Water Quality | Department of Natural ...

Preview of WaterInsights - WaterNSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

WaterInsights - WaterNSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

WaterInsights - WaterNSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0.1 mg/L. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 1.6 mg/L. This benchmark is set conservatively below the chronic ecotoxicity threshold to protect aquatic fauna and prevent eutrophication.