Measuring TDS is a quick and easy technique to get an idea of the quality of your water. There are dissolved ions in all non-pure water sources, which are known collectively as “total dissolved solids,” or TDS.
How can TDS get into water so easily? Water, or H2O, is an excellent solvent. The pollutants it encounters on the way to your drinking glass will be able to be retained by this substance.
Water with a high concentration of total dissolved solids isn’t generally a bad thing. TDS can be beneficial or toxic depending on its composition. What are the main types of TDS in water, Let’s see in this blog –
Dissolved solids (TDS) in water
Now that you know what TDS stands for, let’s take a look at the many sorts of TDS you could encounter in your water. To simplify things, there are four main forms of TDS: minerals, salts, dissolved metal particles and organic materials.
Minerals
Minerals like magnesium and calcium are found naturally in water. Small amounts of minerals are discharged into rivers, streams, and lakes when they come into touch with mineral-rich rocks. There are numerous benefits to drinking mineral-rich water.
Salts
Minerals and gases reacting with water as it moves slowly through the Earth’s crust affect the chemical composition of groundwater that’s why Groundwater may contain naturally occurring salts.
Metals that have been dissolved
Pollution is the primary route by which dissolved metals enter waterways. Some metal are dissolve into water and this can also be lead by industrial waste and human activities such as mining. Metals can be found in trace levels in rocks and soil, and certain metal pipes can also increase the concentration of dissolved metals in water.
Material made of living organisms
This organic substance is typically found in water due to algae or plant degradation. Natural organic matter is largely eliminated during water treatment in municipal applications.
If the TDS in your water is over 500, you should have it analyzed so you know exactly what is causing it.
Source of TDS
It is possible to obtain total dissolved solids from a variety of sources. Now these days many things like Sewage, water treatment chemicals, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluent can leads to water pollution. TDS can also be found in natural sources, such as soils and rocks. There are many sources of TDS in urban runoff, including rainwater that flows through urban landscapes, as well as the pipes and plumbing components that bring water to a home.
Make sure to keep in mind that TDS isn’t necessarily terrible news. Minerals springs and Carbonate deposits can contain “beneficial” TDS-like minerals. Seawater intrusion or de-icing substances on city roadways can lead to salts, a typical kind of TDS, ending up in drinking water.
Effect of High TDS in Water
It is incorrect to assume that high TDS water is hazardous because it depends on the type of TDS in the water. Consider that a high TDS value could be the result of water with an excessive mineral content.
TDS levels above 500 parts per million are considered excessive by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If the TDS level in the water exceeds 1,000 parts per million (ppm), it should not be ingested.
