What is TDS in Water Supply?

Water is essential for all living beings. However, drinking polluted water could be as harmful as not drinking water at all. You might wonder that water goes through a treatment plant before it is supplied to our houses. Yes, the water is processed at the treatment plants before it is supplied, but these plants use chemicals that are not suitable for consumption. One of the common impurities in water is TDS, and it is important to have a TDS is your water purifier. Now, you might wonder what TDS is in the water?

What Is TDS in Water?

TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids. These are the particles that are larger than two microns in their size. A fine filter is great as it can deal with particles up to 0.45 microns in size. Once these contaminants from various sources are removed, the next impurity that needs to be dealt with are ions and charged molecules. In short, TDS are organic or inorganic particles that are dissolved in a particular amount of water. These particles change the taste of the water and also make it dangerous for drinking. We know what TDS is and what its ill effects could be? Now before we know what TDS is in the water purifier, you might want to know how do we get these particles in our water supply. These TDS can come from the chemicals that are used to treat water at the treatment plants and runoff from fertilizers and mining activities.

How to Know if There Are TDS in Water

Before you go and get yourself the top of the line Water Purifier with the ability to deal with TDS, you might want to check if TDS in your water supply is excessive. The first indication of excessive TDS in water is the taste. The water might taste salty, bitter, or sulfur-like based on what is dissolved in the water. Another indication of TDS are spots on the utensils that you wash with the water. TDS is something that cannot be eliminated from water supply completely unless you go with distilled water. Therefore, it is okay to find that your water supply has TDS if it is under control. Let us see how much TDS in water is acceptable.

• If the TDS amount is under 150 ppm (parts per million) in a given sample of water, then it is perfect for drinking.
• A TDS value of 250 ppm or less is still good for drinking.
• If the value is below 300 ppm, then there is a slight concern, and you might want to get a water purifier, especially if you are sensitive.
• A TDS value between 300 and 500 ppm is a serious concern, and you should get a water purifier to deal with it.
• If the TDS comes out to be more than 1200 ppm, then the water supply is unfit for consumption.

Is Low TDS Amount in Water Harmful?

Yes, just as high TDS amount in water could affect your health, a low amount of TDS could also cause deficiency diseases. A TDS amount of less than 50 ppm makes the water unsuitable for drinking as the water lacks the necessary minerals that our bodies need. A TDS amount of 150-250 ppm is good for people who suffer from some kind of cardiovascular disease. A TDS amount of 250-350 ppm is excellent for people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) states that water supply should have at least 50 ppm of TDS and a max limit of 500 ppm. However, the World Health Organization states that the upper limit of TDS is 300 ppm.

How to Remove TDS in Water?

Now, that we know what TDS in Water is, the way to identify if TDS is too high, and the limits of TDS in water. It is time to learn how to remove excess TDS from the water supply that we get.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis is a process that removes excess TDS from water by forcing it through a semi-permeable membrane by applying pressure. The membrane is so efficient that no particle that is greater than 0.0001 microns could pass through it.

Distillation

Distillation is done by boiling water in a beaker and collecting the vapor in another beaker where they are condensed. This process provides distilled water, which is the purest form of water. However, it is not fit for consumption as it lacks essential minerals.

Deionization

The process of deionization involves passing water through a pair of electrodes. The ion-sensitive membrane separates the positive ions from the water. This process provides what we call Deionized water, which extremely pure. Deionization is generally performed after Reverse Osmosis as it removes non-ionic impurities.

How to Choose the Best Purifier to Deal with TDS in Water?

Broadly speaking, water purifiers can be classified into three segments depending on the amount of TDS in the water supply.

• If the water supply has less than 200 ppm of TDS, then a simple UV filter would be sufficient to make the water fit for drinking.
• A TDS content of more than 200 ppm but less than 300 ppm requires a water purifier with both UV and RO equipped.
• A TDS content of more than 300 ppm and less than 500 ppm would require you to buy a water purifier equipped with UV, RO and UF filters.
• Areas, where the supply is worse, require a water purifier with UV, RO, UF filters along with a TDS controller to make the water suitable for drinking.

FAQs

What Is TDS In Water?

TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids, which are present in water supply due to processing at water treatment plants and other activities. A high TDS level makes water unsafe for drinking.

What Are Acceptable TDS Levels in Water?

Ideally, the water supply should have TDS between 50 ppm and 300 ppm. A level below 50 ppm means water lacks essential minerals for our bodies, and a level above 300 ppm has an excess of these minerals.

How to Measure TDS In Water Supply?

Fill one glass with tap water and another glass with filtered water. Now, use a TDS meter to measure the level of TDS. Filtered water is used as a control in this test.

What Purifiers to Use Depending on TDS Levels?

A TDS level of less than 200 ppm means a UV water purifier would be sufficient. TDS between 200 ppm and 300 ppm requires a UV+RO water purifier, and if the TDS is between 300 and 500 ppm requires a RO+UV+UF based water purifier.