One of the biggest problems with different types of water contamination is that many contaminants cannot be seen just by looking at a glass of water. In fact, you might not even know that your water contains some of the most harmful contaminants around if you never tested for them. In the water quality industry, we have a term for all of these sneaky little contaminants: total dissolved solids. Today we’re going to talk about what total dissolved solids in water are and what they mean for your home’s water quality!

What are total dissolved solids in water?

Total dissolve solids (TDS) is a measurement of all of the dissolved organic and inorganic substances in water. According to the World Health Organization, total dissolved solids typically include substances like calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, hydrogencarbonate, chloride, sulfate and nitrates.

The substances included in TDS can come from a variety of different sources, including agricultural runoff, soil contamination and discharge from the activities of nearby sewage and industrial plants.

What are the effects of a high total dissolved solids count in your water?

Because TDS is an umbrella term used to describe the combined content of substances in your water, the effects of having a high TDS count in your water will vary depending on the actual makeup of your water. For example, your water might have a high TDS count but include mostly harmless (or maybe even beneficial) substances. On the other hand, your water could have a high TDS count and include dangerous contaminants like chemicals and THM’s.

In general, having a high TDS count in your water can lead to a higher potential for any of the following negative effects:

• Elevated risk of harmful contaminants. The more dissolved solids your water contains, the more likely it is to contain contaminants that can affect your health. If your water has a high TDS count, you should have it tested by a water quality expert like EPA Water.
• High likelihood of hard water. Because calcium and magnesium are two of the contaminants that are most commonly associated with total dissolved solids, a high TDS count is a good indication that your home suffers from hard water.
• Water that tastes and smells funky. Many of the contaminants that come with a high TDS count can make your water smell strange and taste bitter, salty or metallic.

How can you lower your water’s total dissolved solids count?

The only way to lower your water’s TDS count is to install a water softener and/or water filtration system in your home. A water softener will remove the hardness minerals from your water, while a filtration system will remove all of the tiny, dangerous contaminants that are not removed by your water treatment plant.

If you have any questions about total dissolved solids in water, or if you’d like a water treatment system serviced or installed in your home, contact EPA Water Consultants, your Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey water filter and water softener dealer. We service towns all over Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including places like Langhorne, Lansdale and Laurys Station, PA.

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