Water Analysis - Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Total Solids (TS)

JMJ Marist Brothers
NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY

City of Koronadal, South Cotabato 7
Experiment 2
Water Analysis – Total Dissolved Solids (TDS),
Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Total Solids (TS)
I. Introduction
The composition and concentration of particulate matter in the aquatic environment is

affected by the source and pathway of sediment input. The sediment input can potentially
alter the type and quantity of suspended solids in water of the streams or rivers. The changes
in the composition and concentration of suspended solids can affect the aquatic ecosystem in
the long run.
Suspended solids act as a medium of transportation of pollutants and nutrients needed by

aquatic organisms through flocculation, adsorption, and colloidal action. Reducing the span
of the natural habitat, limiting the ability to find food, increasing the possibility of being
preys, etc. are some of the possible effects on fishes. Therefore, the process of quantifying
and monitoring the changes of suspended solids is highly critical.
To solve for the value of total dissolved solids (TDS):
TDS = TS – TSS
where,
TDS – Total Dissolved Solids

TS – Total Solids
TSS – Total Suspended Solids
Total solids is the measure of all suspended, colloidal, and dissolved solids in a sample of
water. These includes dissolved salts, soil or silt, and plankton. Excessive amount of total
solids is a common problem in the environment.
Many factors may contribute to the increase in the total solids of water. Soil erosion is a
large contributor of silt and clay. This usually happens when there is an increase in the water
flow or the number of plants near the river banks had declined. Also, agricultural runoff often
contains fertilizers and suspended soil particles. And bottom-dwelling aquatic organisms also
stir up the sediments at the bottom of the rivers or streams thus cause an increase in the total
solids of the water.
On the other hand, total suspended solids (TSS) gives a measure of the turbidity of the
water. We cannot see pH or other kinds of water qualities, but we can observe TSS directly.
JMJ Marist Brothers
Suspended solids cause the water to be milky or muddy looking due to the light scattering
from very small particles in the water. Sometimes it is mixed with color, but colored waters
can also be clear.
II. Objective
 To determine the total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS) and total
suspended solids (TSS) in a water sample
III. Materials
Water container Oven
Wash bottle Pipette
Beaker Pipettor
Iron stand Analytical balance
Iron clamp Evaporating dish
Filter paper TDS meter
IV. Procedure
Water Analysis – TDS, TSS, TS
Get sample from

the creek
Analysis
Total Solids Electric

(TS) Conductivity
Prepare the filtration setup.

Wash the evaporating dish with Weight the filter paper and wash
distilled water and weigh to constant it with distilled water. Wash it
weight. three times.
JMJ Marist Brothers
Stir first the water in the container. Get Stir first the water in the container. Get
a sample of water to the evaporating a sample of water and filter it using the
dish. setup.
Put the evaporating dish in the oven Place the filter paper in the oven until
until dry or until all the water has dry.
evaporated.
Weight the evaporating dish with the Weight the filter paper with the solids.
solids. Subtract the weight of the Subtract the weight of the filter paper
evaporating dish from the weight of from the weight of the filter paper and
the dish and solids. solids.
Measure TDS using Total Dissolved Subtract TSS

a TDS meter Solid (TDS) from TS
Record the data.
V. Results and Discussion
Trial Mass of Mass of TS Mass of Mass of TSS TSS

dish dish + (ppm) filter filter (ppm) (ppm)
(mg) residue paper paper +
(mg) (mg) residue
(mg)
1 61483.6 61491.1 500 913.5 916.8 220 280
2 55650.2 55648.3 540 959.2 963.1 260 280
3 45028.6 45037.7 606 909.8 914.5 313.3 292.7
Amount of sample used in TS and TSS = 0.015 L

JMJ Marist Brothers
TDS of water based on TDS meter = 285 ppm

Calculations:
TS = [(mass of dish + residue)-(mass of dish)]/L sample

TS1 = (61491.1 mg – 61483.6 mg)/0.015 L = 500 ppm
TS2 = (55648.3 mg – 55650.2 mg)/0.015 L = 540 ppm
TS3 = (45037.7 mg – 45028.6 mg)/0.015 L = 606 ppm
TSS = [(mass of filter paper + residue)-(mass of filter paper)]/L sample

TS1 = (916.8 mg – 913.5 mg)/0.015 L = 220 ppm
TS2 = (963.1 mg – 959.2 mg)/0.015 L = 260 ppm
TS3 = (914.5 mg – 909.8 mg)/0.015 L = 313.3 ppm
TDS = TS – TSS
TDS1 = 500 ppm – 220 ppm = 280 ppm
TDS2 = 540 ppm – 260 ppm = 280 ppm
TDS1 = 606 ppm – 313.3 ppm = 292.7 ppm
The results of the water analysis show that the water sample has TS values of 500 ppm,
540 ppm, and 606 ppm, TSS values of 220 ppm, 260 ppm, and 313.3 ppm. And its TDS
values are 280 ppm, 280 ppm, and 292.7 ppm. The TDS value from the TDS meter is 285
ppm. Each TDS value is close to the value set by the TDS meter. The average TDS value in
the result is 284.23 ppm which is close to the TDS value from the meter.
The water sample contained a lot of suspended solids in it. Based from the dried filter
paper and evaporating dish, most of the residue are grains of soil. It is also evident that there
are a lot of suspended solids in the water based on its color and appearance which is murky,
cloudy brown.
VI. Documentation
JMJ Marist Brothers
Collecting water sample from the Bulok Creek Drying the dishes and filter papers
Transferring sample to separate replicates Weighing the filter paper
VII. Conclusion
Based from the results of the experiment, the water contains an excessive amount of
suspended solids. The suspend solids are dissolved are causing the water to change its quality
and appearance. Due to the suspended solids, the water has an appearance of cloudy, murky
brown color.
It cannot be determined as to what exactly composes the suspended solids but certainly
soil and other organic wastes are part of it. Soil eroded from the mountains are brought along
with the water in the Bulok Creek. And because of the presence of excessive suspended
solids, the water and the creek itself is unhealthy and is not safe for aquatic organisms to
dwell or to live in.
References:
Packman, J. J., Comings, K. J., & Booth, D. B. (1999). Using turbidity to determine total
suspended solids in urbanizing streams in the Puget Lowlands. Retrieved November 28,
2017 from
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/16333/tssturb.pdf
Vernier Software & Technology. (n.d.). Water quality with Vernier lab manual. Retrieved
November 28, 2017 from http://www2.vernier.com/sample_labs/WQV-04-COMP-
total_solids.pdf
JMJ Marist Brothers
Tender. (2013). Water analysis: total suspended solids (tss). Retrieved November 28, 2017
from http://help.bioworldusa.com/kb/wastewater-treatment/water-analysis-total-
suspended-solids-tss

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JMJ Marist Brothers

NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY

The composition and concentration of particulate matter in the aquatic environment is

Suspended solids act as a medium of transportation of pollutants and nutrients needed by

TDS – Total Dissolved Solids

Water container Oven

Wash bottle Pipette

Iron stand Analytical balance

Iron clamp Evaporating dish

Filter paper TDS meter

Water Analysis – TDS, TSS, TS

Get sample from

Total Solids Electric

Prepare the filtration setup.

Measure TDS using Total Dissolved Subtract TSS

Record the data.

V. Results and Discussion

Trial Mass of Mass of TS Mass of Mass of TSS TSS

1 61483.6 61491.1 500 913.5 916.8 220 280

2 55650.2 55648.3 540 959.2 963.1 260 280

3 45028.6 45037.7 606 909.8 914.5 313.3 292.7

Amount of sample used in TS and TSS = 0.015 L

TDS of water based on TDS meter = 285 ppm

TS = [(mass of dish + residue)-(mass of dish)]/L sample

TSS = [(mass of filter paper + residue)-(mass of filter paper)]/L sample

Transferring sample to separate replicates Weighing the filter paper

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