Why Using A TDS Or PPM Tester Does Not Accurately Measure Water Quality
Introduction
We have been getting many inquiries from new customers who have purchased our Body Glove Water Filter Systems.
A lot of the concern from new customers with new systems is the fact that our Body Glove Water filter Systems is not doing their jobs properly.
A pattern we always see is a customer comparing tap water to the new Body Glove System with a TDS tester.
The narrative is always, "My plumber came over and tested to see if the water is better quality, but it's the same as my old filter/tap water."
In this blog we go on about why a TDS tester being used in 99% of these inquiries have absolutely no merit in regards to water quality.
What Is A TDS Tester
A TDS meter is a hand-held electronic device that emasures Total Dissolved Solids within a solution, primarily water.
Because dissolved ionized solids, such as salts and minerals, increase the conductivity of a solution, a TDS meter will end up measuring the conductivity of the solution and will read an estimate of TDS from that reading.
The vast majority of TDS meters will display the total amount of dissolved solids in parts per million.
For instance if you begin with deionized water (0 TDS), then expose it to minerals such as magnesium, sodium, and calcium, what will eventually happen is the water's TDS or parts per million will increase.
This proves the case why deionized water in nature does not exist.
Depending on the geology of a region, natural TDS/ppm levels will vary across the United States and this difference in region has nothing to do with the water quality (unless in rare scenarios when the water is too salty to drink).
What Does a TDS Meter Not Measure
Things such as pharmaceuticals, gasoline, motor oil, and pesticides, do not contribute to a TDS/ppm measurement.
What this means is even if you had these items in your water, a TDS tester will not capture these contaminants within the reading.
In short a TDS meter is not sensitive enough to measure toxic levels of arsenic, lead, and even chromium-6, whilst present in the water sample.
A TDS tester reads items in parts per million, while the previously stated can be in your water sample at parts per billion or even parts per trillion.
Conclusion
If you ever purchased a brand new water filter system from us you can rest assured it is working flawlessly and filtering out the contaminants advertised.
If you have any questions about this or anything else, do not hesitate to call us at (720) 320-5050 or email us at support@drinkingwellco.com.
