What is TDS in Water & How to Reduce Them?

The water we get nowadays for consumption is flushed with hazardous chemicals from the different water treatment plants. Because the natural minerals present in water are taken away. It is essential to use the proper filtration processes to remove the contaminants and make water safe for consumption in such a situation. The contaminants present in the water are total dissolved solids or TDS which are left in the water after the normal process of filtration. Contaminants, which are larger than two microns, are termed as total dissolved solids. A filter then generally removes particles that are 0.45 microns in size and originates from different sources. The remaining contaminant in the water after the filtration process consists of charged atoms and ions. High TDS in water can not only change the taste but also poses a lot of health hazards.

What are total dissolved solids (TDS) in water?

Drinking water TDS means a combination of both organic substances, i.e., from natural sources, like minerals & ions, and inorganic substances like pesticides, fertilizers, road salts, chemicals etc. As a solvent, water absorbs particles and impurities easily as it passes through different surfaces, rocks, soil, and pipes. 

TDS levels less than 500PPM are safe for human consumption, and groundwater has a higher TDS than surface water.

Why should you measure TDS in water?

The main reason to measure the TDS in water is to discern the overall quality of water. High TDS levels in water also indicate the presence of chemicals & contaminants which might be harmful to health.

Hence, regular checking of the TDS level in water is vital. You can check TDS in water through:

• Altered Taste: Water with high TDS has a salty, bitter, or sulfuric taste.
• Health Hazards: Water with a high level of dissolved substances like copper, fluorides, arsenic, and lead can also affect your health in the long run.
• Plumbing and Appliances: Water with high levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts can form scale and build-up in pipes, reducing appliances' lifespan.
• Cooking: When you use water with TDS levels below 500 ppm in cooking, it is not harmful, but using water with a high TDS level can alter the taste of the food or beverage.
• Cleaning: The presence of a high TDS level in water can cause fading of colors from clothes to water spots on utensils to build-up in sinks & faucets.
• Water Purifier Maintenance: Water with a high TDS level can affect the water purification systems, so regular checking is needed to ensure that it is working optimally.

Ways to reduce or even remove TDS in water

Reverse Osmosis

RO is one of the processes which works efficiently when it comes to dealing with TDS reduction. Many of the purification systems come with best RO water purifiers to uphold their price & demands.

Reverse Osmosis is the most commonly used filtration system that removes all the dissolved contaminants from the water. The only issue with RO is that it needs a lot of water & depletes all the essential minerals.