What does TDS mean?

Total dissolved solids (TDS) is a term that refers to the total concentration of dissolved substances in water. TDS is made up mostly of inorganic salts with a minor bit of organic stuff thrown in for good measure. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, which are all cations, and carbonates, nitrates, bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulphates, which are all anions, are all common inorganic salts found in water. Cations have a positive charge, while anions have a negative charge.

When the TDS level is high, what happens to the water?

A high concentration of dissolved materials does not normally pose a health risk on its own. Many people, in fact, purchase mineral water, which contains naturally high levels of dissolved solids. TDS is listed as a secondary standard by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

TDS can be removed from water treatment facilities in what manner?

Reverse osmosis can be used in water treatment plants to remove the dissolved solids in the water that cause high TDS levels. Reverse osmosis eliminates almost all dissolved compounds, including many potentially dangerous elements like salt and lead. It also eliminates beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium, which should be added to the water by filtering it through a magnesium and calcium mineral bed. The mineral bed also raises the pH of the water and lowers its corrosive potential.

What exactly is pH?

The acidity or alkalinity of a water source is measured by its pH value. Because hydrogen activity is an excellent reflection of the acidity or alkalinity of water, the pH level is a measurement of the activity of the hydrogen atom.  The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. Water with a low pH is considered acidic, while water with a high pH is considered basic, or alkaline. Pure water has a pH of 7.0, but due to impurities in the water, water sources and precipitation have a somewhat acidic pH.

A water body with a pH of 5.0 is 10 times more acidic than one with a pH of 6.0. Furthermore, water with a pH of 4.0 is 100 times acidic than water with a pH of 6.0.

How does a pH ofwater source change?

pH of surface water is usually between 6.5 and 8.5, while the pH of groundwater is usually between 6.0 and 8.5. Some forms of rock and soil, such as limestone, are more successful at neutralizing acid than others, such as granite. Alternatively, when a big number of plants grow in a lake or river, when they die and decompose, they emit carbon dioxide. When carbon dioxide reacts with water, it forms a mild carbonic acid, which causes the pH of the water body to drop.

When the pH of the water changes, what happens?

A change in water pH can have a variety of repercussions. Many plants and animals are injured, if not killed, as a result of acidity in the environment. Changes in water temperature and composition are particularly harmful to many types of fish and aquatic life. The biodiversity within the environment is extensive when the pH is about 6.0 to 7.0 (which is normal for many lakes and streams).

How do water treatment facilities affect pH of water?

Before disinfection, there are numerous methods for raising the pH of water. Sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide are commonly used to raise pH levels, but calcium and magnesium carbonate are a better option for dealing with low pH levels because they not only raise pH levels but also make the water less corrosive, and both calcium and magnesium, unlike sodium, have health benefits.

Why is TDS and pH monitoring important?

For a variety of reasons, it's critical to keep an eye on the TDS and pH of your drinking water. When a water supply has a high amount of TDS or a low pH, other dangerous pollutants are almost certainly present. TDS and pH are very simple to measure, and if something is wrong with the water, such as pollution, both TDS and pH levels are likely to vary, thus keeping note of such changes can serve as an early warning sign that something is wrong with the water. As a result, it's critical to keep an eye on the TDS and pH levels so that if they fluctuate, you can react quickly.