TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), PPM (Parts Per Million) and Microsiemens (μS/cm or uS/cm)
Are all terms used in water quality measurement to describe the concentration of dissolved solids in water.
Here is an explanation for each term:
1. TDS (Total Dissolved Solids):
TDS stands for the total amount of dissolved solids in water. These solids can be various dissolved substances such as salts, minerals, metals and organic compounds. TDS is usually measured in units such as milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (PPM). It is an important parameter for assessing water quality as high TDS values can indicate an increased concentration of solutes.
2. PPM (Parts Per Million):
PPM is a unit for measuring the concentration of a substance in a solvent, such as water. It represents the number of parts of solute per million parts of solvent. PPM is often used to quantify the concentration of dissolved solids in water or other liquids. For example, if you have 10 PPM TDS in water, that means there are 10 parts dissolved solids per million parts water.
3. Microsiemens (μS/cm or uS/cm):
Microsiemens is a unit of measurement for the electrical conductivity of water or other liquids. It measures how well the water conducts electricity, which depends on the presence of dissolved ions. The higher the concentration of dissolved ions in the water, the higher the conductivity and thus the microSiemens value. Electrical conductivity is an indirect indication of the amount of dissolved solids, including salts and minerals, in water.
All three terms (TDS, PPM and Microsiemens) are useful parameters for assessing water quality to measure and monitor the concentration of dissolved solids in water.
