Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-TGP-URB-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

100 µS/cm

Direction: Higher 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

An EC value of 100 µS/cm is proposed as the benchmark.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) in urban streams as an indicator of ecological health.

Benchmark Definition:

A scientifically defensible benchmark for a high-health urban stream reflecting the natural state of the biome.

Justification:

The value is based on data from pristine, forested reference catchments in the same biome (EC 40-82 µS/cm) and ecological thresholds for sensitive macroinvertebrates.

Sources (1)

Preview of Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 – Summary Report, accessed August 10, 2025,

Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 – Summary Report, accessed August 10, 2025, Journal

Macroinvertebrate Responses to Conductivity in Different Bioregions ..., accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Impacts of tree invasion on floristic composition of subtropical grasslands on the Bunya Mountains, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025

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(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

All About Salinity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support

Impacts of salinity | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

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

Regulatory Framework Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

View Source

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

Regulatory Framework

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

View Source

Conservation Advice for Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The Cumberland Plain and its vegetation - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source

Cooks River - Strathfield Council, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Cooks River - Strathfield Council, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Preview of Design of Stormwater Treatment and Retention Systems in the Little Stringybark Creek Catchment - urbanstreams.net, accessed August 11, 2025, ).pdf

Design of Stormwater Treatment and Retention Systems in the Little Stringybark Creek Catchment - urbanstreams.net, accessed August 11, 2025, ).pdf

Contextual Support

Design of Stormwater Treatment and Retention Systems in the Little Stringybark Creek Catchment - urbanstreams.net, accessed August 11, 2025, ).pdf

View Source

Dobsons Creek disconnection project - CRC for Water sensitive cities, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Dobsons Creek disconnection project - CRC for Water sensitive cities, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Preview of Effectiveness of Water-Sensitive Urban Design Techniques on Stormwater Quantity Management at a Residential Allotment Scale - MDPI, accessed August 2, 2025,

Effectiveness of Water-Sensitive Urban Design Techniques on Stormwater Quantity Management at a Residential Allotment Scale - MDPI, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

Targets for Urban Stormwater Management in Australia - MDPI, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source

Ensuring protection of Little Stringybark Creek - Tasmanian Planning Commission, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ensuring protection of Little Stringybark Creek - Tasmanian Planning Commission, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

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

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in Temperate Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands in SE Australia: A Literature Review - ACT Government, accessed August 12, 2025,

View Source

Jurisdictional information - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 10, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Jurisdictional information - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Moving toward Water Sensitive Cities, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Moving toward Water Sensitive Cities, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Namoi River Water Quality Objectives explained - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Percentage compliance with ANZECC water quality trigger values for aquatic ecosystems, primary contact recreation and secondary

View Source

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,

View Source

Preview of Percentage compliance with ANZECC water quality trigger values for aquatic ecosystems, primary contact recreation and secondary, accessed August 11, 2025

Percentage compliance with ANZECC water quality trigger values for aquatic ecosystems, primary contact recreation and secondary, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Values, Water Quality Objectives and Targets for the Black Ross Water Quality Improvement Plan Appendices December - Creek to Coral

View Source

Preview of Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 12, 2025,

Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Vegetation change in an urban grassy woodland 1974–2000 - CSIRO Publishing

View Source

Resources - CRC for Water sensitive cities, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Resources - CRC for Water sensitive cities, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

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

Contextual Support 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

Salinity | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source

Scattered trees and biodiversity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Scattered trees and biodiversity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Preview of ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 4, 2025

ten key steps to conserving Australia's temperate eucalypt woodlands - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support

Sustainable forest management and the ecosystem approach - an Australian perspective, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source

Timeline of the Little Stringybark Creek (LSC) project. Ecological ..., accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Timeline of the Little Stringybark Creek (LSC) project. Ecological - ResearchGate, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed August 11, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) - Tuvalu Environment Data Portal, accessed July 19, 2025,

View Source

Water Assessment Water Quality Report Series

Contextual Support

Water Assessment Water Quality Report Series, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Water Quality | Cooks River Valley Association, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Water Quality | Cooks River Valley Association, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

Water quality indicator: Electrical conductivity - Queen Mary University of London, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ...

View Source

Water quality testing | Melbourne Water, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Water quality testing | Melbourne Water, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

water sensitive urban design - a stormwater management perspective - eWater, accessed August 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

water sensitive urban design - a stormwater management perspective - eWater, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source

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

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Rehabilitation Target
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

This value is slightly above the observed maximums in the reference reservoirs, making it an ambitious but potentially achievable target for a catchment fully retrofitted with best-practice WSUD. It is notably lower than the ANZECC default lower trigger value of 125 µS/cm, distinguishing it as a target for high ecological health rather than a minimum compliance threshold.