Some of the most damaging tap water contaminants are too small for the naked eye to see. In order to get a general idea of your water quality, these tiny contaminants are often grouped into a measurement known as total dissolved solids. Today we’re going to talk about what total dissolved solids are and the effects they have on your home’s water quality!
What are total dissolved solids?
Total dissolved solids (often abbreviated as TDS) is a measurement of the amount of dissolved particles in your water. A dissolved particle is anything that is not a water molecule that can pass through a filter with pores of two microns in size.
A measurement of total dissolved solids in water includes a number of different types of contaminants, some of which are more harmful than others. Some of the most common dissolved solids in water include calcium, chlorides, THM’s, nitrates, phosphorus, iron, sulfur and bacteria.
What effects do total dissolved solids have on water quality?
Because total dissolved solids includes such a wide range of contaminants, the specific effects that a high TDS count will have on your water will depend on which types of contaminants your water contains. However, a high TDS count will generally result in:
- A higher potential for poor water quality. When your water is high in total dissolved solids, it has an elevated chance of containing contaminants that will affect the quality of the water you use for drinking and bathing. In addition, a high TDS count often means your water is hard.
- Bad tasting water. Water with a high TDS count is often described as tasting salty, bitter or metallic.
- Bad smelling water. In addition to tasting strange, water with a high TDS count also typically contains particles that negatively affect its smell.
- Corroding of plumbing appliances. If your water contains a high level of total dissolved solids, it can corrode and shorten the life of your plumbing appliances. This is especially true for your water heater because water with a high TDS count will corrode its sacrificial anode rod much quicker.
How can you reduce the amount of total dissolved solids in your water?
You can reduce the amount of total dissolved solids in your water by installing a whole house filtration system or a point-of-use reverse osmosis system from Hague. These systems are designed to remove dissolved solids from your water and provide your home with pure water for any use.
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 North Carolina Water Consultants. We service and install Hague water filtration systems in North and South Carolina, including towns like Boone, Winston Salem and Clemmons, NC.