Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-AQU-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5000 µS/cm

Thresholds: Lower: 5000, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: LowerThreshold

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 18 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 17 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

A value of ~5,000 µS/cm serves as a defensible lower boundary.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the lower critical threshold of water electrical conductivity below which the system transitions from inland saline aquaculture to freshwater aquaculture.

Justification:

The lower critical threshold represents the point below which the system ceases to be 'inland saline aquaculture' and becomes freshwater aquaculture.

Sources (1)

Preview of Australia - Brackish Water Aquaculture, accessed July 20, 2025,

Australia - Brackish Water Aquaculture, accessed July 20, 2025, GreyLiterature

Inland saline aquaculture - Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Barramundi aquaculture | Business Queensland

Contextual Support Government

Barramundi aquaculture | Business Queensland

View Source

Growth performance, survival rate and economic efficiency of barramundi cultured in HDPE-lined ponds with high densities - Bioflux

Contextual Support Journal

Growth performance, survival rate and economic efficiency of barramundi cultured in HDPE-lined ponds with high densities - Bioflux

View Source

Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support

Working Draft - Grower Group Alliance

View Source

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)

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Aquaculture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

It marks the boundary where the unique challenges and opportunities of the land use are no longer relevant.

Related Benchmarks

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