Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-AQU-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

800 μS/cm
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 800
Direction: Lower 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.

Evidence & Context

The MDBA uses a general benchmark of <800μS/cm to classify water as having 'low salinity'.

Metric Definition:

Electrical Conductivity (EC) measured in μS/cm at 25 0C.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a general upper limit for electrical conductivity used by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to classify water as having low salinity in the Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome under aquaculture land use.

Justification:

This is a broad management target for a multi-use river system, not a benchmark for high-value aquatic ecosystems.

Sources (1)

Preview of Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,
Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025, Government

Basin Plan water quality targets; Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZG 2018/ANZECC 2000); Australia State of the Environment 2021: Inland water

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,
(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Diatom–water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed May 15, 2025,
Diatom–water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed May 15, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Diatom0water quality thresholds in South Australian streams indicate a need for more stringent water quality guidelines - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Aquaculture
  • Assessment Target Condition
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Water in the range 280 to 800 μS/cm is considered slightly to moderately disturbed.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-AQU-WEC family.

280 μS/cm High
Aquaculture · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Active v1
— μS/cm High
Aquaculture · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1