What is the Best TDS for Drinking Water? Understanding the Numbers for Your Health

When it comes to the safety and taste of your drinking water, you've probably heard the term TDS, or Total Dissolved Solids. But what exactly does it mean, and what's the best TDS level for drinking water? This is a common question, especially for those in Kochi and across India seeking reliable water purification solutions.

At Aquacare Water Purifiers, we believe in empowering you with knowledge. Let's demystify TDS and help you understand the ideal range for healthy, great-tasting water.

What is TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)?

TDS refers to the total concentration of all inorganic and organic substances dissolved in water. These include minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, as well as salts, metals, and even some organic matter. It's usually measured in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L).

While some dissolved solids (like essential minerals) are beneficial, an excessive or insufficient amount can impact water quality, taste, and potentially your health.

The Ideal TDS Range for Drinking Water: What Do Experts Say?

Determining the "best" TDS level involves a balance between safety, taste, and the presence of essential minerals. Here's a breakdown of commonly accepted guidelines:

• World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines: The WHO suggests that TDS levels up to 300 mg/L are generally considered excellent for palatability. While WHO doesn't set a health-based guideline value for TDS itself (as it's often an indicator of other contaminants), it notes that water with TDS above 1200 mg/L is generally unacceptable for consumers due to taste.

• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) - IS 10500:2012: For drinking water in India, the BIS sets:

  • Acceptable Limit: Up to 500 mg/L.

  • Permissible Limit (in absence of alternative source): Up to 2000 mg/L.

  • Important Note: BIS does not define a strict minimum TDS value. However, water with very low TDS (below 50 ppm) is generally not recommended for regular consumption as it lacks essential minerals.

Breaking Down the TDS Levels and Their Implications:

Let's look at what different TDS ranges typically imply:

• Below 50 ppm (Very Low TDS):

  • Taste: Water often tastes flat or insipid due to the absence of minerals.

  • Health: While technically safe from contaminants, prolonged consumption of water with extremely low TDS may lead to a lack of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, potentially impacting bone health and electrolyte balance over time. This is common with distilled water or highly purified RO water without a mineralizer.

• 50 - 150 ppm (Excellent/Ideal):

  • Taste: Generally considered excellent for taste, providing a balanced and refreshing feel.

  • Health: Contains a good balance of essential minerals, making it healthy for regular consumption. Many experts recommend this range, especially for RO purified water after a TDS controller has adjusted the mineral content.

• 150 - 300 ppm (Good):

  • Taste: Still considered good for taste and perfectly safe for drinking.

  • Health: Contains beneficial minerals. Most municipal tap water in well-treated areas often falls within this range.

• 300 - 500 ppm (Fair/Acceptable):

  • Taste: Palatability may start to decrease, with some noticing a slight taste difference.

  • Health: Generally safe for consumption, according to BIS, but a water purifier with RO might be beneficial to improve taste and reduce potential minor contaminants.

• 500 - 900 ppm (Poor/Cautionary):

  • Taste: Likely to have a noticeable metallic, salty, or bitter taste.

  • Health: While still considered within "permissible" limits by BIS in certain situations, it may indicate higher levels of dissolved salts or other impurities that could be problematic with long-term consumption. RO water purifiers are highly recommended here.

• Above 900 ppm (Unacceptable/Unsafe):

  • Taste: Definitely unpleasant and often unpalatable.

  • Health: Water with TDS levels above 1200 mg/L is generally considered unacceptable by WHO due to taste. Levels exceeding 500 mg/L (as per BIS desirable limit) and certainly above 900-1000 mg/L often contain excessive salts or contaminants that could pose health risks over time, such as laxative effects or mineral imbalances. An RO water purifier is essential for water in this range.

The Role of Your Water Purifier in Maintaining Ideal TDS

If your raw water has high TDS (common in borewell water or areas with hard water), an RO (Reverse Osmosis) water purifier is the most effective solution to reduce it. However, a pure RO system can bring TDS down to very low levels (often below 50 ppm), stripping away beneficial minerals.

This is where advanced purifiers from Aquacare come in! Many of our RO water purifiers are equipped with:

• TDS Controller/Adjuster: This innovative feature allows you to retain essential minerals by blending a small amount of pre-filtered water with the RO-purified water, ensuring the final drinking water has an optimal TDS level (typically 50-150 ppm) for both health and taste.

• Mineralizer: Some systems include a dedicated mineralizer stage that re-adds vital minerals like calcium and magnesium to the purified water, improving its nutritional value and taste.

How to Check Your Water's TDS?

You can easily measure your water's TDS level at home using a digital TDS meter, which is readily available and simple to use. Many modern Aquacare water purifiers also feature an in-built digital display that shows the purified water's TDS in real-time.

Make the Right Choice with Aquacare

Understanding TDS is a crucial step in ensuring you and your family drink truly healthy and great-tasting water. Don't rely on guesswork!

At Aquacare Water Purifiers, we offer:

• Free Water Quality Testing: We can accurately measure your raw water's TDS and other parameters.

• Expert Advice: Our team in Kochi will help you choose the ideal RO water purifier or UV water filter (or a combination) that not only removes harmful contaminants but also maintains the best TDS level for drinking water tailored to your specific source.

• Advanced Water Purifiers: Featuring TDS controllers and mineralizers for balanced, healthy water.

• Reliable After-Sales Service: Including water purifier AMC plans to ensure consistent performance.

Ensure your water is not just pure, but perfectly balanced for health and taste!

Visit https://www.aquacarewaterpurifiers.com/ or call us at +91 9846932867 today to schedule your free water test and find the ideal water purification solution for your home!