A Rapid Method of Detecting Total Dissolved Solids in Rural Drinking Water

Objectives To establish a rapid, simple and economical method of detecting total dissolved solids in drinking water.

Methods Applying the correlation between total dissolved solids in water and its specific conductivity, the total content of dissolved solids in the water sample could be measured indirectly by the reference of an electrical conductivity meter.

Results There was no significant difference between the measured results by electrical conductivity meter and by the national standard method.

Conclusions The advantage of the method applying a conductivity meter to indirectly measure total dissolved solids in drinking water was simple in operation, quick, accordance with the requirements, and also applicable for the preliminary detection of large quantities of samples.