TDS is the total amount of all dissolved substances in water, including minerals, salts, metal ions, etc. It is usually expressed in milligrams per litre (mg/L) or PPM (parts per million).Water quality can be affected by either too high or too low a TDS level. The former may lead to excessive water hardness, while the latter may mean that the water source is deficient in trace elements that are beneficial to the human body.TDS values below 300 mg/l are considered good quality drinking water, 300 to 500 mg/l are considered good, and values above 500 mg/l require attention.The desirable range of TDS values for household drinking water and the corresponding testing standards are explained in detail below.
What is the standard TDS test value?
The ideal TDS value for household drinking water is not a fixed number, but varies according to different usage scenarios and health needs.In general, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that drinking water should have a TDS value of less than 500 mg/l, while the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a TDS value of no more than 500 mg/l, but this can be relaxed to 1,000 mg/l under special circumstances.
In China, according to the Hygienic Standard for Drinking Water for Daily Use (GB 5749-2006), although there is no specific limit for TDS directly, the maximum permissible concentrations of various hazardous substances in drinking water are strictly limited, which indirectly controls the level of TDS.
In addition to TDS, pH, turbidity, residual chlorine, etc. are also indispensable factors in evaluating water quality.There is a close link between them: for example, too high or too low pH may affect the presence of certain heavy metal ions in the form of TDS, thus indirectly altering the TDS level; and the appropriate concentration of residual chlorine can effectively kill microorganisms, but if the concentration is too high, it will pose a threat to human health.Therefore, a combination of indicators must be considered when assessing water quality.
TDS values, while important, are not the only measure of water quality.The quality of water needs to be assessed in conjunction with other indicators such as colour, turbidity and pH.
Water sources and water quality conditions vary from region to region, so the standards for meeting TDS values may also vary.Users should conduct testing and assessment according to the local actual situation and the regulations of the relevant departments.
Long-term consumption of water with a low TDS value (e.g. purified water) may result in a lack of essential minerals, while water with a high TDS value may contain excessive inorganic compounds, which may have adverse effects on human health.
Therefore, it is vital to choose water quality that is suitable for home consumption. The TDS test value for household drinking water should be less than or equal to 1000mg/L (for domestic drinking water) or less than 450mg/L (for direct drinking water), while the ideal range of TDS value is between 0 and 300mg/L.By regularly testing the TDS value and making a comprehensive assessment in conjunction with other water quality indicators, you can ensure the safety and health of your home's drinking water.Erun environmental protection production professional laboratory with tds water quality tester, if you need detailed information can be directly telephone consulting.
