You must have quite often heard about the term TDS level. But how much do you know about it? Here is a detailed discussion on the TDS level, its importance, and the ideal TDS for drinking water.
What is TDS Level?
Total Dissolved Solids is the complete form of TDS. Thus, TDS means the amount of inorganic and organic solids that are dissolved in the water. When you talk about these solids, they can be inorganic salts and chemicals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium. It can also contain other solids such as sulfates, chlorides, bicarbonates, carbonates, and nitrate.
When you speak of the TDS level, this means how much concentration of such solids exists in the water.
Importance of TDS
The TDS level of water depends upon several factors, such as:
1. The origin of the water,
2. The channels through which it is flowing to reach you,
3. The treatment procedure through which it has passed to reach you.
Water is a natural solvent. It means different solid particles can easily get dissolved in it. Most of the times, the elements dissolved in water is not harmful for consumption. But they can cause a different problem when they are excess in amount. For example, when there is an excess concentration of calcium and magnesium in water, it causes water to harden that can cause damage to skin, hair, and even your fabric and utensils.
Similarly, if the water has a higher sodium concentration, it can cause several health concerns, such as increased blood pressure. Again, when there is a high chlorine concentration in the water, you will find issues such as darkening of the skin and other issues.
Thus, when you shift to a new location, you must test water quality to understand the TDS level. Certain TDS levels are acceptable, and you can sustain them comfortably. On the contrary, when the TDS level increases from a specific limit, the water can start causing trouble, and you need to take action to stay protected from the harsh impacts of the hard water.
How High TDS Level can Impact You?
Usually, higher TDS levels can impact you in different ways. Here are some of the basic yet important points due to which you should indeed check the TDS level of your water.
Taste
Most importantly, you may not like the taste of water that has a high TDS level. Water that is high sodium or high chlorine will not offer an excellent flavor to drink.
Health Issues
When minerals are dissolved in excess, it can cause several health concerns by increasing the water’s PH level. For example, if the amount of lead is high in water, it can cause significant health consequences.
Altered Food Taste
The hard water does not just taste differently but can also change the taste of the food you are cooking. Whether baking or cooking in a wok, you will find that the food’s flavor is always disturbed due to the water you are using.
Damage to Items
Hard water damages your skin and hair. But apart from this, it also causes damage to the clothes and utensils that you wash with them.
Ideal Value for Drinking Water
After knowing much about TDS, you must be wondering how much TDS value is appropriate for drinking water. Usually, the level of 50 PPM to 150 PPM is considered ideal TDS for drinking water.
The TDS level between 150 PPM to 250 PPM is also a good TDS level for drinking, if not excellent. Again, the level of 250 PPM to 300 PPM is a fair TDS acceptable for drinking purposes.
The quality of drinking water is considered poor if the TDS level of water is somewhere above 500 PPM. This water is not ideal for drinking. Again, if the TDS level of water is above 1200 ppm, this quality is not acceptable for drinking and other activities.
To stay healthy, you must consume clean and pure water. The TDS level is the ideal way to track the purity and quality of water. Thus, it is always important to check the TDS level of water whenever you relocate somewhere to take the necessary measures to deal with it.
