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TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter is the most accessible and portable digital instrument to measure the quality and purity of drinking water. Often people assume that water testing machines are quite expensive, whereas the reality is that a simple household digital TDS meter is easily available on e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Flipkart, etc.) and local water purifier stores in a budget of ₹150 to ₹400.
| tds meter | listed price |
| Themisto TH-TDS10 | ₹193 |
| Aquafresh Digital TDS Meter | ₹178 |
| AMPEREUS Digital Meter | ₹238 |
| Vidhmahi Digital TDS Meter | ₹251 |
Most of the budget-friendly TDS meters available in the market come with titanium alloy probe, LCD screen and auto-shutoff features:
A TDS meter measures the amount of total solids—such as calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulphate, fluoride, arsenic and other heavy metals—dissolved in water. PPM (Parts Per Million) Measures in:
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To check the health of RO filter: If the RO purifier installed in your house is damaged or its membrane has burst, then the fault can be detected immediately by measuring the input (tap water) and output water with a TDS meter.
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Finding essential minerals: Many times RO reduces the TDS of water to less than 30-40, due to which the water becomes ‘dead water’ and the body does not get the essential minerals. With the help of TDS meter, you can set the TDS controller at the right level.
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Prevention of kidney and stones: Continuous drinking of hard water with TDS more than 500 increases the risk of kidney stones and digestive disorders.
Drinking water parameters as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines:
| TDS level (PPM) | water quality | utility |
|---|---|---|
| 50 to 150 PPM | Excellent | Most Ideal Level for Drinking |
| 150 to 250 PPM | very good | Good for health and balance of minerals |
| 250 to 500 PPM | Fair | Drinkable, but a bit heavy tasting |
| over 500 ppm | Poor | hard water; Avoid drinking without RO purification |
| less than 50 ppm | mineral free | deficiency of essential minerals; It is not advisable to drink for a long time |
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Remove the meter’s protective bottom cap.
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Press the Power (ON/OFF) button.
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Take water in a clean glass and dip the meter probe in water for 1-2 inches.
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Wait 5 seconds until the numbers on the screen become stable, then ‘Hold’ Press the button and note the reading.
Want to know more about water quality and filters?
Best RO UV Water Purifier for Home
How to increase or decrease TDS in water
Types of Hard Water Softener Filters