Water Turbidity

AUS-AMR-URB-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0 to 10 NTU
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 25
Optimal Range: 0 to 10
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Indicator Name: Water Turbidity Reference Value: < 10 NTU (with < 5 NTU representing best-on-offer) Unit: NTU

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity in surface waters of urbanized catchments within Australia's Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome during low-flow or inter-event periods.

Benchmark Definition:

The best available condition for turbidity during low-flow or inter-event periods in receiving water bodies within an urban catchment managed with best-practice Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD).

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from national guidelines and regional proxy data (groundwater) due to the absence of direct surface water measurements from a site perfectly matching the specified biome and land use context.

Sources (1)

Preview of Synthesis of ANZECC (2000) Guidelines and regional data from the Alice Springs Water Assessment Report (NT DPL, 2025)
Synthesis of ANZECC (2000) Guidelines and regional data from the Alice Springs Water Assessment Report (NT DPL, 2025) Government

Alice Springs water allocation plan | NT.GOV.AU, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Supporting Sources (36)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 3. Todd River - Hydrology and Water Resources Research Laboratory, Kyoto University (Japanese), accessed August 1, 2025,
3. Todd River - Hydrology and Water Resources Research Laboratory, Kyoto University (Japanese), accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

3. Todd River - Hydrology and Water Resources Research Laboratory, Kyoto University (Japanese), accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA
A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA
Contextual Support Journal

A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 31, 2025

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Preview of ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS Version 2 - August 2018 - AWS, accessed August 1, 2025,
ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS Version 2 - August 2018 - AWS, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support

ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS Version 2 - August 2018 - AWS, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Alice Springs water assessment report - Territory Stories, accessed August 1, 2025,
Alice Springs water assessment report - Territory Stories, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Flood, Alice Springs and Central Northern Territory - Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of An environmental flow to an ephemeral creek increases the input of carbon and nutrients to a downstream receiving river - Frontiers, accessed July 20, 2025
An environmental flow to an ephemeral creek increases the input of carbon and nutrients to a downstream receiving river - Frontiers, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Connectivity – New South Wales Irrigators' Council, accessed July 17, 2025

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Preview of Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2023, accessed July 21, 2025
Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2023, accessed July 21, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2023, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Arid Swamps | WetlandInfo, accessed August 1, 2025,
Arid Swamps | WetlandInfo, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Arid Swamps | WetlandInfo, accessed July 19, 2025,

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Preview of Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Resources - NHMRC, accessed August 1, 2025,
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Resources - NHMRC, accessed August 1, 2025,
Irrelevant Government

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Resources - NHMRC, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Chapter 5: Water quality - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025
Chapter 5: Water quality - CSIRO, accessed July 21, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Chapter 5: Water quality - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,

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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

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Preview of Diverse invertebrate fauna using dry sediment as a refuge in semi-arid and temperate Australian rivers | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Diverse invertebrate fauna using dry sediment as a refuge in semi-arid and temperate Australian rivers | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Diverse invertebrate fauna using dry sediment as a refuge in semi-arid and temperate Australian rivers | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 16, 2025,
Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 10, 2025,

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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,
Contextual Support

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

View Source
Preview of One-way ANOVA summary for differences in water quality and aquatic... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
One-way ANOVA summary for differences in water quality and aquatic... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

One-way ANOVA summary for differences in water quality and aquatic... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Persistence of in-stream waterholes in ephemeral rivers of tropical northern Australia and potential impacts of climate change - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 18, 2025,
Persistence of in-stream waterholes in ephemeral rivers of tropical northern Australia and potential impacts of climate change - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Persistence of in-stream waterholes in ephemeral rivers of tropical northern Australia and potential impacts of climate change - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research

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Preview of Preliminary information for developing sediment guidelines for streams of the West Coast, New Zealand - Envirolink, accessed August 17, 2025,
Preliminary information for developing sediment guidelines for streams of the West Coast, New Zealand - Envirolink, accessed August 17, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Preliminary information for developing sediment guidelines for streams of the West Coast, New Zealand - Envirolink, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Quantifying Health in Ephemeral Rivers - eWater, accessed July 20, 2025,
Quantifying Health in Ephemeral Rivers - eWater, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

An environmental flow to an ephemeral creek increases the input of carbon and nutrients to a downstream receiving river, accessed August 1, 2025

View Source
Preview of Queensland Murray-Darling Freshwater Biogeographic Province 6 Water quality - WetlandInfo, accessed July 16, 2025,
Queensland Murray-Darling Freshwater Biogeographic Province 6 Water quality - WetlandInfo, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Queensland Murray-Darling Freshwater Biogeographic Province – Water quality - WetlandInfo

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Preview of SL314/SS526: Water Quality Notes: Water Clarity (Turbidity, Suspended Solids, and Color) - UF/IFAS EDIS, accessed August 12, 2025,
SL314/SS526: Water Quality Notes: Water Clarity (Turbidity, Suspended Solids, and Color) - UF/IFAS EDIS, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

SL314/SS526: Water Quality Notes: Water Clarity (Turbidity, Suspended Solids, and Color) - University of Florida, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of State of the Environment 2023 | Water Supply, accessed August 1, 2025,
State of the Environment 2023 | Water Supply, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

State of the Environment 2023 | Water Supply, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Targets for Urban Stormwater Management in Australia - MDPI, accessed July 21, 2025
Targets for Urban Stormwater Management in Australia - MDPI, accessed July 21, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

J. Tibby's research works | The University of Adelaide and other places, accessed July 13, 2025

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Preview of The Australian Outback: Geography, Map, & People - Students of History, accessed August 1, 2025,
The Australian Outback: Geography, Map, & People - Students of History, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Australian Outback: Geography, Map, & People - Students of History, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of The Ecological and Hydrological Significance of Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams in the Arid and Semi-arid American Southwest - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Ecological and Hydrological Significance of Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams in the Arid and Semi-arid American Southwest - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Contextual Support Journal

The Phosphorus Buffering Index – What Does it Mean for Your Soil? - Summit Fertilizers, accessed July 17, 2025,

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Preview of The impact of feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) on remote waterholes in central Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
The impact of feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) on remote waterholes in central Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The impact of camel visitation on native wildlife at remote waterholes in arid Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

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Preview of The terrestrial and semi‐aquatic invertebrates of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 1, 2025,
The terrestrial and semi‐aquatic invertebrates of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Fishes in the forest: High biodiversity and endemism, accessed July 24, 2025

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Preview of Turbidity | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 11, 2025,
Turbidity | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

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Preview of Urban stormwater quality - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 2, 2025,
Urban stormwater quality - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Urban stormwater quality - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Urban Stormwater: Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines. - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 21, 2025
Urban Stormwater: Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines. - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 21, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Introduction - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 1, 2025,

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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)

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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

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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 ...

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Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design - Townsville City Council, accessed August 2, 2025,
Water Sensitive Urban Design - Townsville City Council, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water Sensitive Urban Design - Townsville City Council, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design Guidelines - Melbourne Water, accessed July 21, 2025,
Water Sensitive Urban Design Guidelines - Melbourne Water, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Section 13 – Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Guidelines - City of Gold Coast, accessed July 13, 2025

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Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design Guidelines Wollondilly Shire Council, accessed August 11, 2025,
Water Sensitive Urban Design Guidelines Wollondilly Shire Council, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support

Water Sensitive Urban Design Guidelines Wollondilly Shire Council, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design: An Investigation of Current Systems, Implementation Drivers, Community Perceptions and Potential to Supplement Urban Water Services - MDPI, accessed August 1, 2025,
Water Sensitive Urban Design: An Investigation of Current Systems, Implementation Drivers, Community Perceptions and Potential to Supplement Urban Water Services - MDPI, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water Sensitive Urban Design: An Investigation of Current Systems, Implementation Drivers, Community Perceptions and Potential to Supplement Urban Water Services - MDPI, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Why Measure Turbidity? - Montclair State University, accessed August 12, 2025,
Why Measure Turbidity? - Montclair State University, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Feral horses (Equus caballus) increase suspended sediment in subalpine streams, accessed August 3, 2025

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Urban & Developed Use
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

The reference value represents the best available condition for turbidity during low-flow or inter-event periods. It does not apply to natural, high-turbidity flood pulses. The ecosystem's health is defined by its ability to return to this clear-water state. A persistent state of > 25 NTU during low-flow periods indicates chronic pollution and ecosystem degradation.