What does TDS measure in water (2024)

Water is universal solvent which has ability to dissolve molecules from different kinds of substances.It is essential to have adequate level of TDS in water to assure taste, color and odor.The term TDS refers to Total Dissolved Solids. It indicates amount of organic/inorganic materials dissolved inparticular water volume. These include metals, ions, minerals etc.TDS in water is due to minerals in springs, chemicals used at water supply source,road salts, fertilizers, plumbing etc.Let us understand what does TDS measure in water and explore test procedure for TDS measurementwith the help of TDS meter including its benefits.

TDS is measured as volume of water with unit milligrams per litre (i.e. mg/L). It is also known as ppm (parts per million).Following table mentions various TDS levels with its quality.TDS levels between 300 to 500 are considered to be safe for drinking purpose.

Following systems are employed in water filters to reduce higher TDS levels fromyou drinking water.
•RO (Reverse Osmosis) system •Water Distiller •Deionization system

TDS test procedure using digital TDS Meter

The figure depicts digital TDS meter used to test water purity.It uses polypropylene as filter material.TDS meter measures water quality in units of parts per million (ppm) or mg/L.It finds many applications which includewater purifiers & filters, food such as vegetables and fruits drink quality monitoring,spas, pools, aquariums, hydroponic and so on.

Following TDS test procedure guidelines are followed to perform TDS measurement.
•Take water to be measured in a glass.
•Remove protective cap of TDS meter and immersed it into the water as shown.Maximum immersion level is marked on the meter.
•Turn ON the meter using ON/OFF button provided.
•Wait until digital reading on display stabilizes.
•Once reading stabilizes press "HOLD" button to record the reading.
•Compare the reading measured with the TDS water chart to determine safe water quality level as per application.
•After usage shake off any excess amout of water from TDS meter and replace the cap back and put the meter in its cover.

Benefits or advantages of TDS measurement

Following are the benefits or advantages of TDS measurement method used for drinking water quality measurement :
➨Water with very low TDS will have flat taste and it lacks in minerals.Moreover water with high TDS is unsafe due to contamination and is not recommended for use.TDS measurement using TDS meter helps us maintaining water with right TDS for our usage for cooking as well as drinking purposes.
➨Flowers and plants require 1000-1100 ppm and 900-1000 ppm respectively.TDS measurement helps in watering vegetables and flowers with appropriate nutrients.
➨It is used to measure TDS level of water coming out of your tap or source of water.This helps to buy appropriate water purifier for your need and avoids unnecessary expenditure.
➨It helps to regularly check the water output from the purifier so that we will come to know when to replace the purifier or change its parts.
➨It helps in keeping proper TDS level of water in your fish tank similar to natural habitat.
➨High TDS water having high levels of magnesium and calcium is known as hard water.This hard water gets collected in pipes. This results into expensive replacement of pipes and alsoreduces lifetime of home appliances.

Conclusion: Overall, TDS measurement serves as a valuable tool for assessing water quality, safeguarding public health,protecting infrastructure, and monitoring environmental impacts, making it an essential parameter in water management andtreatment processes.

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