In water and wastewater treatment, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are a common measure for water quality. But what are TDS exactly? How can it be treated? A simple explanation by YASA ET.
What Is TDS?
Total dissolved solids (TDS) is the term used to describe the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in solution in water. The principal constituents are usually calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium cations and carbonate, hydrogen carbonate, chloride, sulphate, and nitrate anions.
A high level of TDS in water can lead to a number of health problems. The presence of potassium, sodium, chlorides increases the TDS level in the water. However, the presence of toxic ions such as lead, nitrate, cadmium, and arsenic present in water can lead to a number of serious health problems.
How To Measure TDS In Water?
Total dissolved solids (TDS) is measured as a volume of water with the unit milligrams per litre (mg/L), also known as parts per million (ppm).
To measure the TDS levels in water we can use a TDS meter. Since a normal TDS meter cannot report with accuracy which kind of substances there are in the water, we recommend a lab chemical analysis to make sure to know which kind and quantity of total dissolved solids are in your water.
Water can be classified by the level of total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water:
Fresh water: TDS is less than 1,000 ppm
Brackish water: TDS = 1,000 to 10,000 ppm
Saline water: TDS = 10,000 to 35,000 ppm
Hypersaline: TDS greater than 35,000 ppm
A level between 50-150ppm is considered excellent for drinking. Above 1000ppm the water quality diminish drastically and it could lead to health consequences on the long run if not treated beforehand.
How To Lower TDS In Water?
The three most common methods to reduce Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water are:
Distillation;
Deionisation (DI).
With the right set up all of these methods can reduce the TDS contained in water by reducing the TDS levels to excellent quality for drinking (50-150ppm).
If you have any doubts about TDS and your water quality, YASA ET can help to answer your questions.
Kindly get in touch with our team at:
🌐 www.yasa.ltd（EN）
🌐 www.yashahuanjing.cn (中文）
📱 +86 136 3643 1077
Visit YASA ET official online store, click here
Sources: