Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AKW-URB-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 1500

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: UpperThreshold

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

The evidence strongly points to an upper detrimental threshold of approximately 1,500 ³S/cm.

Metric Definition:

Electrical Conductivity (EC) level at which significant adverse ecological effects begin to occur in Australian freshwater biota

Benchmark Definition:

Threshold EC value beyond which significant adverse effects on freshwater biota occur.

Justification:

Supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies identifying 1,500 μS/cm as a critical transition point for ecological harm.

(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

Naracoorte Creek, Naracoorte 2014 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition ...

Naracoorte Creek, Naracoorte 2014 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition ...

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Salinity - MurrayDarling Basin Authority

Contextual Support Journal

Salinity - MurrayDarling Basin Authority

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

This threshold is supported by the degraded Naracoorte Creek case study where EC above 1,100 μS/cm was associated with poor ecological condition.

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