Water Nitrate

AUS-TMI-IND-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.035 mg/L

Range: — to 0.035 mg/L

Optimal Range: — to 0.035

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

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 MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

This benchmark is a proxy derived from the upper range of the ANZECC (2000) default trigger value for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in tropical Australian inshore marine waters for slightly disturbed ecosystems (8 µg N/L, converted to 0.035 mg NO₃/L).

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration in tropical Australian inshore marine waters as a measure of ecological health under industrial & infrastructure use.

Benchmark Definition:

Proxy benchmark for water nitrate concentration based on national water quality guidelines for slightly disturbed tropical Australian inshore marine ecosystems.

Justification:

Derived from the upper limit for slightly to moderately disturbed inshore marine ecosystems in tropical Australia, representing the most relevant and achievable target for a managed landscape aiming for high ecological integrity.

Sources (1)

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ...,

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., Government

Australian Water Quality Guidelines For Fresh and Marine Waters (ANZECC) 2000. | PDF | Biodiversity | Aquatic Ecosystem - Scribd, accessed August 3, 2025,

Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

(PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of (PDF) Revised method for deriving Australian and New Zealand water quality guideline values for toxicants - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,

(PDF) Revised method for deriving Australian and New Zealand water quality guideline values for toxicants - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

(PDF) Revised method for deriving Australian and New Zealand water quality guideline values for toxicants - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of 2017/18 - Rio Tinto Australia Weipa (Queensland) - PFAS, accessed August 2, 2025,

2017/18 - Rio Tinto Australia Weipa (Queensland) - PFAS, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

2017/18 - Rio Tinto Australia Weipa (Queensland) - PFAS, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Direct Evidence Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,

Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Guidelines Assessing discharges from a uranium ...

Preview of Cadmium: advice for Christmas Island residents - WA Health, accessed August 2, 2025,

Cadmium: advice for Christmas Island residents - WA Health, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Cadmium: advice for Christmas Island residents - WA Health, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Christmas Island, accessed August 2, 2025,

Christmas Island, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Christmas Island, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Declining water quality - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, accessed August 1, 2025

Declining water quality - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, accessed August 1, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Denitrification in intertidal sediments of a tropical estuary subject to increasing development pressures - Northern Territory Government

Preview of Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Methodology Source Government

Water Quality Guidelines Home - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Eutrophication and coral reefs-some examples in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon - UQ eSpace, accessed August 2, 2025,

Eutrophication and coral reefs-some examples in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon - UQ eSpace, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Eutrophication and coral reefs-some examples in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon - UQ eSpace, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Eutrophication and Water quality - Global Coral Reef Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025

Eutrophication and Water quality - Global Coral Reef Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Eutrophication and Water quality - Global Coral Reef Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - PubMed Central, accessed August 1, 2025

Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - PubMed Central, accessed August 1, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Sediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams: changes with agricultural development and pristine condition status, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - ResearchGate,

Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - ResearchGate,

Direct Evidence

Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Highlights of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Highlights of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Highlights of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Hydrology - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Hydrology - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Irrelevant

Hydrology - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,

Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region—A Review - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,

Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region—A Review - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region—A Review - PMC, accessed August 2, 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 Nitrate limitation in early Neoproterozoic oceans delayed the ecological rise of eukaryotes, accessed August 2, 2025,

Nitrate limitation in early Neoproterozoic oceans delayed the ecological rise of eukaryotes, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate limitation in early Neoproterozoic oceans delayed the ecological rise of eukaryotes, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Nutrient Cycling on Coral Reefs - The Fiore Lab, accessed August 2, 2025,

Nutrient Cycling on Coral Reefs - The Fiore Lab, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nutrient Cycling on Coral Reefs - The Fiore Lab, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Poor Water Quality - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 4, 2025,

Poor Water Quality - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Poor Water Quality - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program: Annual Report 2020-2021 - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 1, 2025,

Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program: Annual Report 2020-2021 - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of PORT OF ROCKHAMPTON WATER QUALITY MONITORING ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

PORT OF ROCKHAMPTON WATER QUALITY MONITORING ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

PORT OF ROCKHAMPTON WATER QUALITY MONITORING ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Suitable Environmental Ranges for Potential Coral Reef Habitats in ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Suitable Environmental Ranges for Potential Coral Reef Habitats in ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Suitable Environmental Ranges for Potential Coral Reef Habitats in ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Surface Water - Aurukun Bauxite Project EIS - Glencore Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Surface Water - Aurukun Bauxite Project EIS - Glencore Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Surface Water - Aurukun Bauxite Project EIS - Glencore Australia, accessed July 13, 2025,

Preview of The Impact of Nitrogen Eutrophication on Caribbean Coral Reefs: A Review, accessed August 2, 2025,

The Impact of Nitrogen Eutrophication on Caribbean Coral Reefs: A Review, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

The Impact of Nitrogen Eutrophication on Caribbean Coral Reefs: A Review, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Understanding nitrogen dynamics in coral holobionts: comprehensive review of processes, advancements, gaps, and future directions - Frontiers, accessed August 2, 2025,

Understanding nitrogen dynamics in coral holobionts: comprehensive review of processes, advancements, gaps, and future directions - Frontiers, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Understanding nitrogen dynamics in coral holobionts: comprehensive review of processes, advancements, gaps, and future directions - Frontiers, accessed August 2, 2025,

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 for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,

Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

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What are Phytoplankton? - NASA Earth Observatory, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

What are Phytoplankton? - NASA Earth Observatory, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of www.frontiersin.org, accessed August 2, 2025,

www.frontiersin.org, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.frontiersin.org, accessed August 2, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026
Effective To 17 Mar 2026

Notes

No direct data from best-practice industrial sites exists; natural state is nitrogen-limited with very low nitrate; optimal range is below this benchmark; upper detrimental threshold at ~0.062 mg/L NO₃ indicating eutrophication onset.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-IND-WNI family.