What should be the conductivity of water?

The quality of water is of great importance for health and daily life. There are many parameters that determine this quality and one of the most important of these is the conductivity of water. The conductivity of water shows the density of minerals and ions dissolved in it and is an important indicator for both the flavour of drinking water and the safety of drinking water.

Conductivity in drinking water reflects the amount of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium and chloride in the water. High or low conductivity can alter both the taste of water and its health effects. Conductivity also provides more comprehensive information about the mineral content and overall quality of water when considered in conjunction with TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) measurement.

What should be the conductivity of water?

The conductivity of water is a parameter that shows the density of dissolved minerals and ions in it. Since pure water contains almost no ions, it has a low conductivity value and is usually measured around 0.05-0.1. However, natural spring waters and tap waters show higher conductivity values due to ions such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride and bicarbonate. The conductivity value of water varies according to the intended use and therefore brings the question “What should be the conductivity of water?“.

For example, very low conductivity may be required in laboratory applications, aquariums or industrial processes, while in drinking water and water for everyday use a certain mineral concentration is important for both health and taste.

What should be the conductivity in drinking water?

Conductivity in drinking water gives important information about the mineral balance of water. The World Health Organisation and various national standards recommend that the conductivity value in drinking water should generally be in the range of 50-500. This range indicates that the water is both healthy and satisfactory in terms of flavour. To reduce the conductivity of water and keep dissolved substances under control, there are different water treatment filter models that can be selected according to needs.

Very low conductivity values indicate that the water is mineral-poor and may lead to a deficiency of some essential minerals in long-term consumption, while high conductivity values indicate that there are excess dissolved salts and minerals and the taste of the water may be adversely affected.

How to Measure the Conductivity of Water?

The conductivity of water is measured by means of special devices. These devices detect the ions in the water and determine the passage rate of the electric current. As the ion density increases, the conductivity value increases. Measurements are usually expressed in mS / cm units. Precise measurements in the laboratory use calibrated electrodes and controlled temperature conditions because the temperature of the water directly affects the conductivity. Household conductivity meters also provide fast and practical results. However, their sensitivity is not as high as laboratory devices.

How does the conductivity of water increase?

The conductivity of water increases depending on the amount of dissolved ions. When the concentration of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and sodium increases, conductivity values also increase. In addition, the addition of salt or the mixing of lime deposits in the pipes into the water can also increase the conductivity. In tap water, some treatment methods and minerals from pipe systems are factors that naturally increase conductivity. In some cases, high conductivity can lead to calcification of appliances and pipework and a change in the taste of the water.

How to Reduce the Conductivity of Water?

Various treatment methods are used to reduce the conductivity of water. Ion exchange systems, reverse osmosis devices and distillation methods reduce conductivity by removing calcium, magnesium, sodium and other dissolved ions from water. Reverse osmosis systems are the most common solution for domestic use and almost completely de-mineralise water. Users who want to reduce the conductivity value to the ideal range turn to water treatment equipment solutions that consistently improve the quality of water.

Deionisation systems are also preferred to obtain high purity water in laboratories. With these methods, it is possible to obtain low conductivity and healthy water.

What Happens If Water Conductivity is High?

When the conductivity of water is high, it means that the amount of dissolved minerals and ions in the water is above normal. This is due to the high amount of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and sodium. High conductivity can affect the physical and chemical properties of water and can have various consequences on both the devices used in daily life and health.

In terms of devices actively used at home, high-conductivity water causes calcification in tap systems and water-powered devices. Water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers and coffee machines may lose performance over time due to the accumulation of minerals in the water. This accumulation causes the heating elements of the devices to spend more energy and shorten the life of the devices.

Especially when the hardness of the water is high, limescale deposits can also form in pipes and taps. This negatively affects the water flow and increases maintenance costs. For those who want to get purified and low TDS water directly at the point of use, water purification tap options that offer a practical solution in the kitchen are preferred.

High conductivity can also have negative consequences in terms of taste and aesthetics. The concentration of minerals can impair the taste of the water. In some cases the water may have a bitter or metallic taste. This particularly affects the quality of water used for drinking and food preparation.

In terms of health, long-term consumption of high conductivity may pose some risks. Excess sodium can be particularly problematic for people at risk of hypertension. Excessive calcium and magnesium intake may also increase the risk of kidney stone formation. In addition, mineral imbalance can cause health problems, especially in people with kidney and heart disease.

How Does Water Conductivity Affect Health?

The conductivity of water has a significant impact on health. Water with moderate mineral content contributes to meeting the daily requirement of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. However, excessively high conductivity can lead to excess mineral intake for kidney patients or people at risk of hypertension.

Low conductivity and mineral-poor waters may cause mineral deficiencies in long-term consumption. For this reason, both taste and health balance should be taken into consideration when choosing drinking water.

What are the Differences Between Conductivity of Water and TDS?

In order to interpret the conductivity value of water correctly, you may be thinking “What is TDS?”. Although the concepts of water conductivity and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) are often used interchangeably, they are actually different from each other and give different information about water quality. Conductivity is a parameter that measures the capacity of ions in water to conduct electric current. These ions are usually minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate and chloride. As the ion density increases, the conductivity of water increases. Conductivity is usually measured in units of mS/cm and is used as an indicator of the mineral density of water.

TDS represents the total amount of all dissolved solids in water and is expressed in milligrams per litre (mg/L). These dissolved solids are not only composed of ions. Organic substances, salts, minerals and some chemical compounds are also included in TDS. Therefore, even if the conductivity of a water is low, the TDS value may be high due to dissolved organic substances and some inorganic compounds.

Although the relationship between conductivity and TDS is generally considered linear, this relationship varies depending on the mineral and ion distribution of the water. For example, while calcium and magnesium ions increase conductivity significantly, organic dissolved substances do not create conductivity at the same rate. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain precise information about TDS by measuring only the conductivity of water. When both measurements are evaluated together, the mineral content and general quality of the water can be understood more accurately.

TDS and conductivity values are important health indicators for drinking water. Very high TDS values may spoil the taste of water and may cause excess mineral intake in long-term consumption. On the other hand, very low TDS and conductivity values indicate that the water is mineral-poor and may be deficient in some essential minerals. Therefore, it is of great importance to evaluate conductivity and TDS values together when choosing water treatment, mineral supplements or drinking water.

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