You may have seen the term TDS when looking at water filters, water quality reports, or handheld water testers. TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids, which refers to dissolved substances present in water. These can include naturally occurring minerals and salts such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulphates. As water travels through soil, rocks, pipes, and treatment systems, it can pick up different dissolved substances along the way.
A TDS reading is usually expressed in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per litre (mg/L). Generally, a higher reading means the water contains a greater concentration of dissolved ionic substances, while a lower reading means fewer are present. However, a higher TDS reading does not automatically mean that the water is contaminated or unsafe. Some of the substances contributing to TDS are normal minerals naturally found in drinking water.
TDS can nevertheless affect your everyday experience with water. Depending on which substances are present and their concentrations, water with elevated dissolved solids may have a noticeable mineral, salty, bitter, or metallic taste. Dissolved minerals can also contribute to scale forming inside kettles, coffee machines, taps, and other appliances. This is why checking TDS can be useful for observing general changes in your household water or comparing different water sources.
Most importantly, TDS should not be treated as a water safety test. A TDS meter cannot tell you exactly which substances are present, and a low reading does not guarantee that water is free from harmful contaminants. If you have concerns about the safety or composition of your drinking water, professional laboratory testing is the better option for a detailed and trustworthy analysis.This content was AI-generated, please review yourself.
