The quality of water is the critical concern of today for living a healthy life, and one of the most important indicators of healthy drinking water is TDS.
TDS is short for the concentration of minerals, salts, and metals in your water. It directly affects its taste, safety, and health benefits.
At Distillo, Australia’s most trusted water filtration company, we firmly believe that pure and safe water should be standard in every home. This guide will explain what TDS means, why it matters, and how a Distillo water filtration system can help you achieve the ideal levels of TDS for optimum health and wellbeing for your family.
What is TDS, and why does it matter?
TDS refers to the total amount of dissolved substances in water, including all essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, and bicarbonates.
The TDS is measured in ppm, and it determines the mineral balance of your water.
While some dissolved minerals are beneficial, high TDS levels can indicate contamination or excess salts, while low TDS levels can make water taste flat and unappealing.
Balanced TDS is critical for ensuring safe, good-tasting drinking water in the home.
How TDS Affects Drinking Water Quality
The TDS level in your water influences taste and safety:
Water with high TDS may taste salty, metallic, or bitter and could contain harmful contaminants like heavy metals.
Water with low TDS tastes bland, and many of the properties that make water good to drink naturally come from beneficial minerals.
At Distillo, we specialize in systems for the filtration of water to optimize TDS balance: removing impurities while retaining essential minerals for freshness and health.
Ideal Levels of TDS in Drinking Water for Australia
According to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines NHMRC, the desirable range of TDS in drinking water lies between 50 and 500 ppm.
This ensures that your water is both safe and pleasant to drink.
Here’s what different TDS ranges mean:
- Low TDS below 50 ppm
Very pure, but low in minerals.
Downsides: Can taste flat and lacks key nutrients.
- Moderate TDS (50-300 ppm)
The optimal range for Australian households.
Advantages: balanced mineral content and refreshing flavor.
Cons: May still require monitoring for regional contaminants.
- High TDS (Above 300 ppm)
Excess salts or contamination may be indicated.
Some mineral-rich waters do have their merits.
Cons: Typically associated with poor taste and hard water.
- Very High TDS (Above 500 ppm)
Not fit for drinking.
TDS Levels in Australian Tap Water
Australia has very high standards regarding water safety, but still, TDS levels vary based on different locations:
These urban cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, usually have TDS in their water supply ranging from 50–300 ppm, which is ideal.
Groundwater sources or smaller treatment systems can lead to higher levels of TDS in rural or regional areas.
Testing your local water’s TDS is the best way to understand its quality, and installing a whole-house water filter ensures consistent purity across every tap.
How to Reduce High TDS in Drinking Water
Distillo’s advanced filtration systems can help if your water test shows high levels of TDS.
Two such proven solutions are:
Reverse Osmosis Systems
Our Distillo RO filters effectively remove up to 99% of dissolved solids, heavy metals, and other contaminants — delivering crisp, clean drinking water Australia-wide.
Distillation
It is a different approach in that it works by turning water into steam and condensing it to clean the water of impurities, but RO systems are more practical for homes and families. Distillo’s multistage filtration systems combine RO, activated carbon, and sediment filters for the best possible water filtration solution in Australia, maintaining the ideal balance of TDS and ensuring maximum purity and great taste. Why TDS Management Matters Maintaining balanced TDS levels safeguards not only your health but also your home. Extra minerals can make the pipes and appliances at your house scale, especially poor water quality that influences your skin, hair, and general well-being. With Distillo’s whole home water filtration systems, you can enjoy clean, safe water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and every household use — all while reducing plastic waste and bottled water dependency. Conclusion Thus, maintaining or managing the levels of TDS guarantees not only healthier water for your family but also extends the life of your appliances. At Distillo, our mission is to see whole-home filtration of water become the new standard throughout Australia. We want to provide pure, affordable, and eco-friendly solutions for every family’s needs.
