4.3. Suspended Solids in Water

What do you think are there in suspended solids? What is the classification what what type of material can be suspended in water, which means it is not dissolving, it’s an insoluble precipitate compound that doesn’t dissolve in water or it can be suspended. Which are all can you give any examples of what all can be other materials that you can just suspend?

Suspended solids refer to materials that can be present in water but do not dissolve in it. These include various particles that float within the water. Unlike dissolved substances that are broken down to a molecular level and mix thoroughly, suspended solids remain intact and do not form a solution. Examples include sand, silt, clay, and certain organic materials. Understanding this distinction is crucial for assessing water quality, especially when considering its cleanliness and safety for consumption.

Think of oil and water. When you add oil to water, it doesn’t dissolve; instead, it creates droplets that float on the surface. Similarly, suspended solids are like those oil droplets—they won't mix with the water but rather stay afloat, impacting the water's clarity and quality.

Carbonate, what is carbonate, what is the form, what kind of? Magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate. Yeah, so these are precipitates, these are insoluble precipitates. There are some salts which are insoluble, so those are present. There are some oxides which are insoluble, so those are present. And there is all components that we discussed in soil yesterday, sand, silt, clay, they are all there, they are all part of the suspended.

Suspended solids can be various types of materials, often classified by their physical properties. Some examples include magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate, which are forms of minerals that do not dissolve in water. Other examples include sand, silt, and clay—common soil components. These materials contribute to water turbidity, which can affect its quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Imagine walking next to a river after a rainstorm. The water appears muddy and brown due to the suspended materials like soil and sediments washed in by the rain. This mudiness indicates the presence of suspended solids that are affecting the water's quality and visual clarity.

What will you do, if you don’t do any of these things to water? If I give you a clear sample of water, then if you see it is a turbid sample of water, what you normally do for water before you drink it? Yes. What is the minimum that you will do to water, filter, then boil it. Sometimes filtration itself will work, we don’t need boiling, what does that mean? So, whatever you are boiling for is there in the filterable part also, so what is that, what compound, what is the entity that we are trying to remove or destroy? Microbes (micro-organisms).

Before drinking water, especially if it appears turbid, it is common practice to filter or boil it. This process helps to remove or kill microbial organisms, which can pose health risks. Microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa are not visible to the naked eye but can cause severe illnesses if ingested. Thus, ensuring the water is free from such contaminants is crucial for safe consumption.

Consider the importance of filtering water like filtering coffee. When you brew coffee, the filter catches the coffee grounds, preventing them from ending up in your cup. Similarly, filtering water removes larger particles and sediments, ensuring you drink only the clean, safe liquid.

So here we have one group that can be dissolved, another group that is suspended, very simply. Water quality itself you can classify now as if you measure the total dissolved components and the total suspended components. This you will get a very simple classification straightaway.

Water quality assessment can be simplified by classifying the components into dissolved and suspended solids. Total dissolved solids (TDS) include all soluble substances that mix with water, while total suspended solids (TSS) consist of the undissolved materials. Understanding the balance between these two groups helps in determining the overall quality of water, essential for treatment processes, environmental health, and safety.

Think of this classification like sorting your laundry. You separate whites and colors (dissolved and suspended solids) because they require different washing methods (treatment processes). This sorting ensures each fabric gets the proper care for cleaning, just like how assessing TDS and TSS helps manage water treatment effectively.

One of the water quality parameters is we call it as total dissolved solids. See the word solids is a very it is a misnomer here, it is not a it’s not an insoluble solid, it’s a solid. People have used this term, it is called as TDS and the other one is total suspended solids TSS.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) refers to all substances dissolved in water, both organic and inorganic. In contrast, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) refers to materials that are not dissolved and can be filtered out. The common misconception is regarding the term 'solids' in TDS, which actually consists of dissolved substances rather than traditional solids. This distinction is essential for ensuring accurate water quality assessments.

Consider a glass of lemonade. The sugar dissolves completely to create a sweet beverage (like TDS), while the ice cubes floating in the glass represent suspended solids (like TSS). Identifying what’s dissolved versus what’s suspended helps in understanding the drink’s overall quality, just like assessing water quality.

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