Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) consist mainly of carbonates, bicarbonates, chlorides, sulphates, phosphates, nitrates, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, and a few others. They do not include gases, colloids, or sediment. The TDS can be estimated by measuring the specific conductance of the water. Dissolved solids in natural water range from less than 10 mg/L for rain to more than 100,000 mg/L for brines. Since TDS is the sum of all materials dissolved in the water, it has many different mineral sources. The chart below indicates the TDS from various sources.

Total Dissolved Solid (Mg/Ltr)

• Distilled Water (0)
• Two-column Deionizer Water(8)
• Rain and Snow(10)
• Ganges River Water(upto 10 km from start-30)
• Average rivers in the(210)
• Missouri River(360)
• Pecos River(2600)
• Oceans(35000)
• Brine Well (125000)
• Dead Sea(250000)
• Yamuna River-Delhi(350)

High levels of total dissolved solids can adversely affect industrial applications requiring the use of water such as cooling tower operations, boiler feed water, food and beverage industries, and electronics manufacturers. High levels of chloride and sulphate will accelerate corrosion of metals. The US EPA has a suggested level of 500 mg/I listed in the Secondary Drinking Water Standards.