Water Nitrate

AUS-AKW-IND-WNI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 25 to 900 mg/L
Optimal Range: 25 to 900
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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.

Evidence & Context

The biome's groundwater systems, particularly on the Nullarbor Plain, are characterized by naturally high and spatially variable nitrate concentrations (25–900 mg/L).

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration in groundwater within the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome under industrial land use.

Benchmark Definition:

Water nitrate concentration as measured in natural groundwater of the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome under industrial land use, reflecting the naturally high and spatially variable baseline in this region.

Justification:

The natural baseline for this biome is orders of magnitude higher than the global norm and is characterized by significant spatial heterogeneity due to in-situ chemoautotrophic microbial processes.

Sources (1)

Preview of Phylogenetic structure of unusual aquatic microbial formations in Nullarbor caves, Australia
Phylogenetic structure of unusual aquatic microbial formations in Nullarbor caves, Australia Journal

Phylogenetic structure of unusual aquatic microbial formations in Nullarbor caves, Australia

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting ...
Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting ...
Regulatory Framework Journal

Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting ...

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The natural groundwater nitrate concentrations range widely and are not indicative of pollution but are integral to the subterranean ecosystem's metabolism. Conventional low-nitrate benchmarks are invalid in this context.

Related Benchmarks

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