How to Check TDS Level and Ideal TDS Level for Drinking Water

Water is important for human survival as it is used to the body's ability to regulate body temperature and perform other physical functions. All cells, organs, and tissues contain it. For a healthy life, a fully-grown human body requires a particular amount of water every day.

However, due to rising pollution, finding pure drinking water is becoming increasingly difficult. Water purifiers assist you in removing hazardous impurities from your drinking water. However, you must first learn how to check TDS levels and the ideal TDS level for drinking water.

What is TDS Level?

TDS stands for "Total Dissolved Solids" in drinking water, and it is a measurement of all inorganic and organic compounds dissolved in water. Magnesium, calcium, and potassium are three of the most frequent inorganic substances present in water. Total dissolved solids are the quantity of organic and inorganic components dissolved in a given volume of water, such as metals, minerals, salts, and ions; TDS are essentially a measure of anything dissolved in water that isn't an H2O molecule.

The presence of these minerals in the water is beneficial to some extent, but when it becomes excessive, it is a cause for concern.

How to Check TDS Level

The TDS level in the water can be measured using a variety of methods. Here are some of the most frequent methods for determining whether or not you are drinking safe water at home:

Digital TDS Meter

The first method is to use a digital TDS meter. This is a cutting-edge digital TDS meter tester that you may use to evaluate the performance of your water filter, the quality of filter water, check for hardness, and ensure that you're drinking clean water. Digital TDS meters may be found in all of the major online stores.

How to Check TDS Level Using a Digital TDS Meter

• Determine the temperature of the water using the meter first.
• Detach the protective cap and discard it.
• Switch on the TDS meter. The ON/OFF switch is located on the panel.
• Submerge the meter up to the maximum immersion level in the water (2 inches).
• To eliminate any air bubbles, gently stir the meter.
• Wait for the reading to level out (approximately, 10 seconds).
• To view the reading, press the HOLD button and remove it from the water.
• If the meter indicates the 'x10' symbol, it means that the reading must be multiplied by ten.
• After each usage, shake your meter to remove any extra water and reinstall the cover.

Following the aforementioned steps, you can easily calculate the TDS level in the water. You can watch videos online to get a clearer idea of how to use a TDS meter. A TDS meter is the most useful equipment to measure the TDS level.

Read Also: How To Choose The Best Water Purifier

Why Checking TDS Level in Water is Important

You may determine if the water you are consuming is pure or dirty by monitoring TDS levels in the water. Drinking water can have a maximum TDS level of 500mg/liter. Whether you get your water from a local lake or a tank, make sure it meets the specified standards. If the level is higher than 500mg/liter, experts advise against drinking the water. 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 rate of TDS or a low pH, other harmful contaminants are almost certainly present.

What is the Ideal TDS Level for Drinking Water?

According to the World Health Organization, water should have a TDS level of up to 300 parts per million (ppm) to be suitable for human consumption. If the TDS level in the water is higher than 300 ppm, it may taste salty and contain a high concentration of minerals such as sodium, potassium, and other salts.

Any value beyond 300ppm would ideally necessitate the use of extra Reverse Osmosis Technology to purify the water. RO water purifiers use special membranes to keep a significant number of dissolved solids out of the water, leaving only palatable, purified water.

Risky TDS Levels

If the TDS level in drinking water exceeds 1000ppm, it may be dangerous for human consumption. TDS levels above 1200ppm are considered undesirable by the WHO. TDS levels in water have a significant impact on color, odor, and taste.

It may be exceedingly unpleasant. Aside from the taste, water with a high level of TDS may be unsuitable due to the excessive scaling it causes in water pipes, heaters, boilers, and other household appliances.

Read Also: What Are The Differences Between STP And ETP?

How To Purify Water That Has High TDS Level

RO water filtration is the most effective method for lowering TDS levels and improving the flavor of the water. It is a common misperception that RO water purifiers remove all TDS.

It is critical to realize that RO water purifiers lower TDS levels to acceptable limits, making the water drinkable. As a result, if the TDS level in your source water is high (>300ppm), you'll need to install a RO water filter.

A semipermeable membrane is used in a RO water purifier to filter water. A water pump pushes the raw hard water through the RO membrane, pressurizing it and allowing it to pass through.

During this process, dissolved solids like arsenic, fluoride, lead, chlorine, nitrates, and sulfates are captured and stuck to the RO membrane, resulting in clean water.

Conclusion

A high TDS count mostly affects the appearance of your drinking water - its color, fragrance, and taste profile — unless the dissolved solids are dangerous or at extremely high levels. However, excessive TDS levels can have a cosmetic effect on human health, and TDS can also signify caustic or sediment-heavy water, which can damage your home's technical components. Since water is crucial for human life, it is imperative to ensure the purity of drinking water. Always keep the TDS level of your drinking water in check. Purchasing a TDS meter and Reverse Osmosis Purifier can significantly help you to maintain the ideal level of drinking water at home.