TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids and refers to the total concentration of dissolved substances in drinking water. TDS is made up of inorganic salts as well as a small quantity of organic materials. Positively charged cations (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium) and negatively charged anions make up inorganic salts (carbonates, nitrates, bicarbonates, chlorides and sulfates). The total dissolved solids (TDS) level indicates how much total dissolved solids are present in the water.

TDS IN DRINKING WATER: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Natural sources, sewage, urban run-offs, industrial wastewater, chemicals in the water treatment process, chemical fertilizers used in the garden, and plumbing are all sources of TDS in drinking water. Water is a universal solvent that can easily pick up contaminants and quickly absorb and dissolve them. Although high TDS levels in drinking water may not pose a health risk, they do give the water a bitter, salty, or brackish flavor. Water hardness, scale development, and discoloration can all be caused by calcium and magnesium, two minerals typically present in TDS.

TDS has an effect on the salinity of water. If your water tastes salty and isn't particularly pleasant to drink, it's likely that your source has a high amount of TDS. The higher the TDS level, the more difficult it is to drink water that has not been purified. These dissolved substances may be harmful to your health and must be removed before consumption. Water purifiers that use Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology are the most effective to purify high-TDS water. TDS is not totally removed by a RO water filter, but it is reduced to make the water more appealing and edible.

Mineral water is odorless and tasteless by nature. A change in TDS alters the texture and flavor of the water, rendering it unfit for drinking. Following are some of the reasons why you should test the TDS level in your drinking water:

• - Taste (water with a high TDS level might taste salty and/or bitter)
• - Health Concerns
• - Preparing food (TDS level above 1000 PPM can change the way the food tastes).

NEEDSTO MEASURE TDS OF WATER

The water you receive contains more than the maximum amount of TDS that should be present in water. TDS levels more than 1000mg/L are unsuitable for human consumption. TDS levels in water that are too high can cause a variety of health issues. The presence of potassium, sodium, and chlorides in the water raises the TDS level. Toxic ions like lead, nitrate, cadmium, and arsenic, which can be found in water, can cause a variety of serious health problems. This is especially critical for youngsters because their defense systems have not fully grown, making them considerably more exposed to pollutants.

REASONS TO MEASURE TDS

1.TASTE: TDS levels in water have an impact on the taste of your drinking water. Depending on the sort of dissolved solids in your water, it may taste bitter, salty, or sulfuric.

2.HEALTH PURPOSE

3.MAINTENANCE OF FILTERS: A high quantity of TDS has an impact onregular testing of water purifier systems that will guarantee that the filters are in good working order.

4.COOKING: Though a high TDS level isn't harmful to your health, it might change the flavour of your meal.

5.CLEANING: Water with a high TDS level creates unsightly stains on your kitchenware. This type of water also fades the color of your clothes, leads to a buildup in your sinks, tubs, and faucets.

RIGHT AMOUNT OF TDS IN DRINKING WATER

The allowable limit of TDS in drinking water has been set at 500 mg/L by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The regulation does state, however, that if no other supply of drinking water is available, the permissible level might be reduced to 2,000 mg/L. According to the BIS research, if the TDS in drinking water exceeds 500 mg/L, it might cause gastrointestinal irritation as well as a decrease in palatability (pleasant taste).

The flavor of water can be affected by the presence of dissolved particles. Panels of tasters have graded the palatability (acceptable taste) of drinking water in relation to its TDS level as follows: