Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-URB-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. The scoring engine uses 14 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 13 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

The final benchmark value of < 800 ³S/cm is formally proposed. This value represents a state of minimal saline pollution from urban sources.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) in surface waters within urbanized Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome

Benchmark Definition:

A conservative, protective target for water electrical conductivity representing high ecological health in urbanized arid karstic aquatic ecosystems.

Justification:

Derived as a conservative, protective target based on a weight-of-evidence approach integrating national guidelines, ecological tolerance literature, and a degraded case study.

Sources (3)

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

Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

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Naracoorte Creek, Naracoorte 2014 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition ...

Naracoorte Creek, Naracoorte 2014 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition ...

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Salinity - MurrayDarling Basin Authority Journal

Salinity - MurrayDarling Basin Authority

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Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Total dissolved solids | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Total dissolved solids | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

No direct empirical benchmark for a high-health urban system in this specific biome was found. The value is well below the upper detrimental threshold of ~1,500 μS/cm and the degraded Naracoorte Creek EC range (>1,100 μS/cm). It aligns with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's low salinity classification and is protective of sensitive species and life stages.

Related Benchmarks

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