What is Turbidity?

Turbidity is one of the crucial indicator that reflect the quality of drinking water. Turbidity is the measurement of the cloudiness or haziness of a liquid, usually water, due to the existence of suspended particles like sediment, plankton, or organic by-products. These particles scatter light as it passes through the water, reducing its clarity.

What is Total Suspended Solids (TSS)?

TSS refers to the total quantity of solid material suspended in water that can be trapped by a filter. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is a measure of the combined content of all inorganic and organic particles suspended in a liquid, typically water. These particles are not dissolved and can include a wide variety of materials such as silt, decaying plant and animal matter, industrial wastes, and sewage. TSS is typically measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L).

Significance of Measuring Turbidity and TSS

Measuring turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS) is crucial for maintaining water quality, protecting aquatic ecosystems, ensuring the effectiveness of water and wastewater treatment processes, and complying with environmental regulations. Both parameters offer essential information for the management and conservation of water resources.

Turbidity:

Water Quality Indicator

High Turbidity: Elevated turbidity levels in water often indicate the presence of contaminants. These contaminants can include:

1. Pathogens: Harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that can cause diseases.

2. Pollutants: Various pollutants from agricultural runoff, urban runoff, and industrial discharges.

3. Organic Matter: Decaying plant and animal matter that can introduce additional microbial risks.

Aesthetic Quality:

1. Clear Water: Water with low turbidity is generally more visually appealing and acceptable for various uses, including:

2. Recreational Purposes: Swimming, fishing, and other water-based recreational activities.

3. Drinking Water: Consumers prefer clear water, and high turbidity can affect the taste and appearance, making it less desirable.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Water Quality Monitoring:

1. Pollution Indicator: High TSS levels often indicate pollution from runoff, erosion, industrial discharges, or sewage. It can also carry other pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides.

2. Clarity: TSS directly affects the clarity of water, which is crucial for drinking water standards and recreational waters.

Environmental Impact:

1. Habitat Disruption: Elevated TSS can smother fish eggs and benthic organisms, clog fish gills, and reduce the availability of habitats for various aquatic life.

2. Nutrient Transport: TSS can transport nutrients that may lead to eutrophication, causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion in water bodies.

Water and Wastewater Treatment:

1. System Performance: High TSS can reduce the effectiveness of treatment processes by clogging filters and reducing the efficiency of sedimentation tanks.

2. Operational Costs: Managing high TSS levels can increase the operational costs of water treatment facilities due to more frequent maintenance and the need for additional treatment steps.

Common Suspended Solids in Water

Suspended solids in water can be classified into various categories based on their origin and composition. Here are some of the most common types of suspended solids found in water:

Inorganic Particles:

Silt and Clay: Fine particles originating from soil erosion, construction activities, and natural processes.

Sand and Gravel: Larger particles typically found in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas due to natural erosion and human activities.

Organic Matter:

Decaying Plant Material: Leaves, stems, and other plant debris that decompose in water bodies.

Animal Waste: Fecal matter from wildlife, livestock, and pets that can enter water bodies through runoff.

Algae and Plankton:

Phytoplankton: Microscopic plants that float in the water and can proliferate in nutrient-rich conditions.

Zooplankton: Microscopic animals that feed on phytoplankton and other small organisms.

Industrial and Municipal Wastes:

Industrial Effluents: Particles from manufacturing processes, mining operations, and other industrial activities.

Sewage: Organic and inorganic particles from domestic and municipal wastewater.

Microorganisms:

Bacteria: Single-celled organisms that can be pathogenic or beneficial.

Protozoa: Single-celled eukaryotes that can be free-living or parasitic.

Chemical Precipitates:

Metal Oxides: Precipitated metal oxides from industrial discharges, such as iron and manganese oxides.

Calcium Carbonate: Formed from the precipitation of calcium ions in water, often seen in hard water areas.

Miscellaneous Particles:

Plastics and Microplastics: Small plastic particles resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic debris.

Fibers: Natural and synthetic fibers from textiles, paper, and other materials.

Effects of High TSS in Water

The presence of high Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in water can have various negative effects on water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and human health. These effects include reduced water clarity, increased turbidity, habitat degradation, oxygen depletion, reduced light penetration, pathogen carriage, and transportation of chemical contaminants. Additionally, high TSS levels can pose challenges in water treatment processes, leading to filter clogging, increased treatment costs, and larger volumes of sludge.

Suspended sediments also interfere with the recreational use and aesthetic enjoyment of water. Due to the wide variation in TSS and turbidity, there are generally no numerical criteria for TSS or turbidity that apply to all streams and lakes. However, state regulations such as the Water Quality Rules developed by environmental agencies include general provisions to prevent the degradation of water quality. These rules emphasize anti-degradation and prohibit nuisance conditions, such as:

"No sewage, industrial waste, or other wastes shall be discharged from either point or nonpoint sources into any waters of the state so as to cause any nuisance conditions, such as the presence of significant amounts of floating solids, scum, visible oil film, excessive suspended solids, material discoloration, obnoxious odors, gas ebullition, deleterious sludge deposits, undesirable slimes or fungus growths, aquatic habitat degradation, excessive growths of aquatic plants, or other offensive or harmful effects."

In specific water classes, such as coldwater fisheries and cool or warmwater fisheries, chronic turbidity standards are set at 10 NTU and 25 NTU, respectively. These standards represent the highest water concentration of a toxicant to which organisms can be exposed indefinitely without causing chronic toxicity. This definition allows for fluctuations associated with storm events. Furthermore, specific limits for TSS are set for discharges from industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants, usually in the range of 30-60 mg TSS/L.

Turbidity also adds real costs to the treatment of surface water supplies used for drinking water. Particulate material causing turbidity must be virtually eliminated for effective disinfection to occur. Chlorine is typically used to disinfect domestic water, but the source water must first be clarified by filtration to a very high degree. This is crucial because many disease-causing microorganisms adhere to particulates and, as a result, receive less exposure to disinfection processes.

How to distinguish turbidity and TSS

Turbidity and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are both crucial parameters for assessing water quality, although they focus on different aspects of suspended materials in water. Here's a comparison to distinguish between the two:

Turbidity:

- Definition: Turbidity measures the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by suspended particles that scatter light.

- Measurement: It is quantified using a nephelometer, which measures the intensity of light scattered at a 90-degree angle to the light source and is expressed in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU).

- Indicative Nature: Turbidity indicates the relative clarity of water and the presence of suspended particles, including organic and inorganic matter.

- Sensitivity: Turbidity measurements are sensitive to very fine particles that affect light scattering, such as colloids and dissolved organic matter.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS):

- Definition: TSS measures the total amount of solid particles suspended in water that can be trapped by a filter.

- Measurement: TSS is determined by filtering a known volume of water, drying the residue retained on the filter, and weighing it, and the result is expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L).

- Quantitative Nature: TSS provides a direct measurement of the mass of suspended particles, including larger particles that contribute to the overall load of solids in the water.

- Comprehensive: TSS encompasses all particulate matter large enough to be retained by a filter, including silt, clay, organic matter, and industrial waste particles.

Key Differences:

- Measurement Method:

  - Turbidity: Measured by light scattering (NTU).

  - TSS: Measured by weight of solids after filtration (mg/L).

- Type of Particles:

  - Turbidity: Sensitive to fine particles and colloids that scatter light.

  - TSS: Measures all particulate matter retained by a filter, including larger particles.

How to measure Turbidity and TSS?-Turbidity Sensor/TSS Sensor

Turbidity Meter

Yosemitech Y510-B on-line turbidity sensor adopts of 90° scattered light measurement principle, in line with the ISO7027 international standard, custom optical devices, small size, easy installation and maintenance, not easy to be affected by ambient light interference, with better repeatability and stability.

Feature:

• Digital sensor, RS-485 output, standard Modbus protocol;

• 90°Scattering light principle, in line with ISO7027 international standards;
  

• Sapphire optical window, customized filters,Not vulnerable to ambient light and chroma interference;

• Excellent repeatability and stability.

  

FAQs:

How Does Increased Turbidity Affect Water Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Level?

Boosted turbidity, or cloudiness of water due to suspended solids, significantly affects both water temperature level and oxygen levels. When there are a lot more suspended particles in the water, they take in and keep even more warmth from sunshine. This darkening effect triggers the water to heat up even more than it would if it were more clear.

Warmer water compounds the issue by holding much less dissolved oxygen contrasted to cold water. Because of this, oxygen degrees diminish, which can have dire repercussions for water life. Types adapted to cooler water may have a hard time to endure as their atmosphere ends up being increasingly hostile.

In addition, urbanization worsens this issue. Elements like warm from car parking lots and roadway surfaces, together with the removal of shade-providing riparian greenery, further contribute to elevated water temperatures. This produces a tough environment for indigenous varieties and interferes with the delicate aquatic environment.