Effective Water Purification Systems That Remove The Total Dissolved Solids In Water

The total dissolved solids in water (TDS) comprise of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonates, chlorides and sulfates and some small amounts of organic matter that dissolve in tap water.

Potential Source Of Contaminants: TDS gets into the water supply via erosion of natural mineral deposits, run-offs from road de-icing salts, run-offs from agricultural and chemical industries and other sources.

Health Hazards: Elevated levels of TDS is not considered a health hazard. However, some people report minor gastrointestinalproblems when TDS is high.

Drinking Water Standard: The U.S. EPA sets legally enforceable water quality standards for drinking water contaminants. This standard is called the "maximum contaminant level" (MCL).

Water authorities are to ensure that various contaminants do not exist in tap water above the MCL. If a particular contaminant exists in the water supply at or above the MCL, water authorities must reduce the contamination and notify customers of the problem within 30 days.

Total dissolved solids do not have a MCL assigned to it because this contaminant is not considered a health hazard. The EPA in this case recommends a secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) for contaminants that pose no health threat.

The SMCL for total dissolved solids in water is 500 mg/L.

Home Water Treatment: Although an elevated level of total dissolved solids is not considered a health hazard, getting a home water purification system is still highly desirable.

A high level of total dissolved solids could lead to tap water that is colored, hard, brackish and staining. Installing a home water purification system will remove total dissolved solids and as a result, reduce hardness and improve the purity of your tap water.

The best home water purification systems for removing total dissolved solids are reverse osmosis filters, water distillers and activated carbon filters. Getting any one of these devices will improve the look and taste of your tap water.

To be assured that you are getting a quality water purifier, seek out a reverse osmosis filter that is certified to NSF 58 or an activated carbon filter that is certified to NSF 42.

NSF certification ensures that the purifier or filter in question is capable of removing the contaminants that the manufacturer claims it can.

This residential reverse osmosis system and whole house water filtration system are both certified to the requisite NSF standards.

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