Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in the water stream can simply be described as foreign particles carried along in suspension within the water flow. These can range from visible contaminates such as vegetation and decaying organic matter, sand, grit down to microscopic particles and micro-organisms. We can also break the definition of “harmful” into two distinct categories, firstly what is destructive to system infrastructures and secondly what is potentially dangerous for your health.
Destructive to system infrastructures
Regarding protecting assets such as piping networks, geysers, washing machines and dishwashers, bathroom and kitchen fittings the most important thing is to remove abrasive solids before they can wear or corrode surfaces over which they travel. This is normally achieved by physical filtration to remove the contaminants from the water flow. The measure of protection (fineness of the filter medium) is usually calculated against the required flow rate of the water stream – effectively around 100 micron (0.1×0.1mm) for normal circumstances.
Potentially dangerous for your health
When we look at ensuring that our water is not hazardous to our health, high levels of total suspended solids will increase water temperatures and decrease dissolved oxygen (DO) levels.
Suspended particles absorb more heat
This is because suspended particles absorb more heat from solar radiation than water molecules will. This heat is then transferred to the surrounding water by conduction. We have to also take one more facture into consideration, – that of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) which comprises of dissolved contaminants and pathogens such as inorganic salts, small amounts of organic matter, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium cations and carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate anions as well as pesticides, bacteria, lead mercury and other heavy metals.
These dissolved contaminants are attracted to and attached themselves to the physical suspended particles in the water flow and can chemically decrease the quality of the water. The WHO recommended maximum level is 300ppm although generally a level of between 50-150ppm is considered as more suitable as increased levels of TDS can give water a bitter, metallic, or salty taste, along with discolouring the water and creating an unpleasant odour.
In terms of water quality, high levels of total suspended solids will increase water temperatures and decrease dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. This is because suspended particles absorb more heat from solar radiation than water molecules will. This heat is then transferred to the surrounding water by conduction.
Remove suspended solids
Therefore to protect both your health and assets it is vital to remove the suspended solids – being the building blocks – from the water flow. The dissolved contaminants can then be flushed through the system before being able to establish colonies and breed.
What is the solution?
We have ranges of reverse vacuum back-washable filters to assist you with your installations from residential to heavy industrial, 20mm to 200mm. with manual and two automatic options, timed and pressure differential systems. These will remove suspended solids down to 100 micron, give high flow rates and the convenience of cleaning while not having to interrupt the filtration process.
Please contact us for further details.
