What are Dissolved Solids in Drinking Water?

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Dissolved solids, or Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), refer to any compounds left in the water after normal treatment and filtration.  TDS in drinking water originate from natural sources, sewage, urban run-off, industrial wastewater, chemicals used in the water treatment process, and plumbing pipes.

 

TDS can make your drinking water taste bitter, salty, or metallic and may have unpleasant odors.  It can interfere with the taste your food and beverages and make your water less thirst quenching.

 

We are all exposed to toxic minerals and chemicals found in the air and in our food on a daily basis. Water flushes these toxins out of our bodies.  The purer the water is, the better it is at collecting and cleansing these compounds from the body.

 

Many consumers want to purify their water for drinking, cooking and ice cubes. WaterBliss solutions can provide high quality, chemical-free water right at the faucet.

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I Taste Chlorine in my Drinking Water

 

Since the 1850s, chlorine has been used as a disinfectant to kill harmful bacteria in water or in the pipes that transport it, helping to eliminate a number of 19th century threats to public health. It is essential at the treatment plant and in the water distribution system, but it is no longer necessary once the water reaches your home.

Chlorine tastes bad. It dries skin and hair, fades clothes (bleach is made of chlorine) and can dry out the rubber seals in appliances, shortening their lives.

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My Drinking Water has a Metallic Taste

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Metals, like copper, iron, and lead found in tap water have their own unique tastes. Usually copper and iron appear in low concentrations and are not harmful, although they can discolor your water. Rusty brown water is a result of high amounts of iron. Iron will stain and destroy everything from pipes to appliances and your favorite t-shirt; however, it is more of a taste concern than health concern.

 

Lead is a more serious concern, because it can be bad for your health.  Lead in drinking water usually comes from plumbing that has been connected with lead solder (outlawed in 1986) or from outdated water distribution lines. Many water pipelines in the U.S. were put in place before 1975, and aging plumbing pipes can contribute to drinking water contamination. New laws came into place to start 2014 that all but eliminate the use of lead in most water treatment solutions.

 

There are things you can do to reduce the risk of lead in your drinking water. Some sources suggest running your tap water for a couple of minutes before filling a glass to flush any accumulated lead from the water line (lead dissolves into standing water over time). This isn’t a foolproof solution, however, since there is no way of knowing whether all of the lead has been removed.  Also, lead can still dissolve into running water.

 

When preparing any drinks or meals, never use hot tap water. Hot water attracts more lead than cold water does. If you need hot water, heat cold tap water on the stove or in a microwave.