Total Suspended Solids | Civil Engineering Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Definition and Components : Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are waterborne particles exceeding 2 microns in size. Anything smaller than 2 microns is classified as a total dissolved solid (TDS). TSS can include inorganic materials such as sand, sediment, and plankton, as well as organic materials like decaying plants and animals. The presence of TSS affects water clarity: higher TSS content results in less clear water.

Measurement of TSS : TSS is typically measured in wastewater using sensors or monitors that detect suspended solids in water ranging from 1,000 mg/L to 8% solids. While TSS sensors provide a real-time analysis, laboratory tests following the EPA method offer a more accurate and thorough analysis of TSS in drinking water.

• Bacteria: Commonly found in well water, including types like Legionella and Coliforms.
• Clay: Particularly colloidal clay, which gives water a cloudy appearance.
• Gravel: Small particles that typically settle at the bottom of a water body.
• Sand: Common in areas with sandy soil composition, often filtered out using sediment filters.
• Silt: Particles between the size of sand and clay, commonly found in rivers, lakes, and soil.

• Erosion & Runoff: Erosion of river and stream banks and runoff from eroding soil can introduce suspended particles into water.
• Human Pollution: Pollutants from human activities, including pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides, lead, bacteria, and mercury, can attach to suspended particles.
• Algae: When algae die, they release organic material into the water, contributing to TSS levels.
• Sediment Disruption: Natural or human activity that disrupts sediment can suspend heavier particles like sand and gravel in water.

• Environmental Effects: High TSS can decrease water's dissolved oxygen levels, increase temperature, block sunlight, and halt photosynthesis, affecting aquatic life and plant survival.
• Human Health Effects: TSS in drinking water can cause gastrointestinal issues if it contains bacteria or algae. Pollutants like metals in TSS can have serious health effects. Non-harmful TSS like sand and silt can cause aesthetic issues in plumbing and water appliances.

TSS vs. Turbidity TSS and turbidity are related but distinct concepts. Turbidity measures water's transparency, while TSS quantifies the suspended particles in water. Turbidity indicates how well light passes through water, whereas TSS provides a direct measurement of suspended solids.