14 Oct / By Admin
In order to answer this properly, it’s important to know what TDS is. In the water treatment industry, the level of TDS in water simply refers to the “total dissolved solids”.
For example, a reading of 25 tells us that the dissolved mineral and solids within this water is at a very low concentration. We measure this in parts per million (ppm).
Crucially then, it does not tell us whether or not the water is safe to drink or if it is toxic. There is no measurement here of bacteria, viruses or heavy metals. As such, you cannot rely on a TDS meter alone to determine whether or not it’s safe for drinking - even if it is a low TDS water level.
What this level does indicate, though, is that it’s most likely gone through an RO system (Reverse Osmosis). RO is a highly efficient form of water treatment that is capable of removing an astonishing 99% of impurities, chemicals like PFAS, and also dissolved solids from your water. RO systems are extremely common. Every day, they are used by residents, as well as in both commercial and industrial settings too. This includes homes, cafes, hospitals, and many more.
Drinking water at this low level of TDS is often reported as tasting flat and unfamiliar because it lacks the minerals of regular tap water. RO water that’s been stripped of the minerals (when no remineralising cartridge has been added back in) is not advised to drink long-term, as you will be missing out on essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are essential for your daily bodily functions. In fact, regular tap water is best at 50-300ppm for drinking as you’ll be getting the essential minerals this way. RO units will frequently have a re-mineralising cartridge installed in order to add these healthy minerals in at the final stage before consumption, to ensure that the water coming out of the tap is optimal, healthy and tasty water.
Most importantly, the TDS reading will not inform you of what is actually in the water. This means it cannot show you if there any harmful microbes inside such as…
A TDS reading will tell you the concentrated amount of dissolved solids instead. Therefore, it’s a very useful tool for measuring how well your reverse osmosis system is working. An efficient and performing system should reduce your TDS levels between 90 to 100%. Of course, with higher readings like 300 for example, it’s an indicator of that regular crips, mineral taste we get with tap water – which is what you want for best flavour.
In India and across the world, there are industries and personnel that rely on ultra-pure water with a TDS reading of 000. ResinTech’s MBD-15 resin is a widely used choice of mixed bed resin for applications such as car valeting or window cleaners. For example, window cleaners using water with this level can enjoy a no-streak finish to their work. If you’re a window cleaner and see your TDS level has risen to 25, it likely means your resin is now exhausted and should be replaced immediately. In fact, when it creeps up to 005, it shows the ion exchange resin is exhausting – so it needs replacing. Otherwise, mineral residue can still remain and cause streaking on the cleaned windows.
Overall, if you’re wondering if 25TDS water is safe to drink, then you should understand that this measurement will not tell you it’s safety – so you cannot determine if the water is suitable to drink from this measurement alone. For example, if you’re testing safety for a private well, then you could send an analysis to an accredited lab for this purpose. They will check the water for microbiological hazards (such as E. coli).
What does 000 TDS mean?
This shows the water has no dissolved minerals.
What’s a good TDS reading for drinking water?
Between 50 to 300ppm is great! Between 300-600 is still perfectly fine to drink, but many people report it to be more noticeable in its mineral taste.
How can I lower my TDS?
A reverse osmosis system is the go-to method for this.
What TDS level does drinking water become not suitable for drinking?
Anything above 1,200 ppm indicates too many dissolved contaminants in the water.
Can a TDS meter tell me if my water is safe?
No, it can only tell you the concentration of the dissolved solids – not what they actually are.
