Example of a TDS meter:
Generally:
A TDS ( Total Dissolved Solids ) conductivity meter is a useful tool for measuring the total amount of dissolved solids in water . These dissolved solids can include minerals, salts and organic substances dissolved in the water.
What is TDS?
Definition:
TDS stands for "Total Dissolved Solids" and refers to the total of all solids dissolved in a liquid. This is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm).
Source of dissolved solids: Dissolved solids can come from a variety of sources, including minerals from soil, chemical fertilizers, sewage, and other contaminants.
What can a TDS conductivity meter do?
Measurement: The device measures the electrical conductivity of the water, which directly correlates with the amount of dissolved ions. The more ions there are, the higher the conductivity and therefore the TDS value.
Easy to use: Most TDS meters are portable and easy to use. You dip the electrode in the water and get a reading within seconds.
Water quality monitoring: A TDS meter can help monitor the quality of drinking water, aquarium water or irrigation water.
What can't a TDS conductivity meter do?
Identify specific pollutants: A TDS meter only gives a total dissolved solids reading and cannot identify specific pollutants or their concentrations. For example, it cannot distinguish between harmful chemicals and heavy metals.
No complete picture of water quality: The TDS value alone says nothing about the safety of the water. It is possible that the water has a high TDS value and is still safe to drink, or vice versa. However, if you value the following important functions: supplying the cells with vitamins, minerals from food and trace elements; detoxification and excretion of metabolic end products, then the water to be drunk should have a conductivity of less than 50 mg/l = 50 ppm!
Note:
- Some conductivity meters do not show the measured value in ppm but in µS (microsimens), this unit corresponds approximately to twice the TDS value. See the graphic below:
- 120µS corresponds to approx. 50-60 ppm = mg/l
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Good reverse osmosis systems filter up to 100% of pollutants from the water, so that the conductivity is usually only 10 - max. 30 ppm (approx. 20-60 µS).
Good and inexpensive conductivity meters, where you can even switch between ppm or µS, can be found in my shop, click on the following picture