American Journal of Applied Chemistry 2016; 4(5): 164-169
http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajac
doi: 10.11648/j.ajac.20160405.11
ISSN: 2330-8753 (Print); ISSN: 2330-8745 (Online)
A Study on the TDS Level of Drinking Mineral Water in Bangladesh
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam1, *
, Mohammad Khairul Islam Sarkar1, Tanzina Afrin
2,
Shafkat Shamim Rahman3, Rabiul Islam Talukder
4, Barun Kanthi Howlader
5,
Md. Abdul Khaleque1
1Department of Environmental Science, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh 2Department of Civil Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology (DUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh 3Department of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh 4Department of Biochemistry, Primeasia University, Dhaka, Bangladesh 5Department of Quality Control, Everest Drinks and Dairy Products Ltd, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Email address: [email protected] (M. R. Islam) *Corresponding author
To cite this article: Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Mohammad Khairul Islam Sarkar, Tanzina Afrin, Shafkat Shamim Rahman, Rabiul Islam Talukder, Barun Kanthi
Howlader, Md. Abdul Khaleque. A Study on the TDS Level of Drinking Mineral Water in Bangladesh. American Journal of Applied Chemistry.
Vol. 4, No. 5, 2016, pp. 164-169. doi: 10.11648/j.ajac.20160405.11
Received: July 21, 2016; Accepted: July 29, 2016; Published: August 17, 2016
Abstract: Natural water is being processed by the Reverse Osmosis purification system in the different area of Bangladesh for
drinking purposes. Most of the water processing company is being filled the 500 mL, 1000 mL, 2000 mL and 5000 mL bottles
with this processed water and being sold these widely in the different markets of Bangladesh. But the dissolved minerals in
their purified drinking water do not sufficient for human’s health. Total Dissolve Solids (TDS) is a parameter that
count all dissolved minerals in the water. Calcium (Ca2+
), Magnesium (Mg2+
) and Potassium (K+) are minerals that
introduce as a “Beneficial Minerals” for human health. Calcium is an important mineral for bone development, Potassium is
needed for muscles and nervous system and Magnesium might help protect against cardiovascular disease. The objective of
the study is determined the Total Dissolved Solids (minerals) and the Total Hardness (Ca2+
& Mg2+
) in selected drinking
bottled water. The selected bottled water has been produced by the local branded company in Bangladesh such as Everest, Spa,
Sena, Fresh, Mum, Aquafina, Jibon and Pran. Total Dissolved Solids and Total Hardness are measured in total eight number of
bottled water samples which had been collected from the local confectionery shop in Dhaka city. Results have shown in the study,
dissolved minerals are found very little in drinking water which is quitealarming level. Particularly, Calcium and Magnesium are
found very low in Aquafina, Sena and Jibon branded water. It never benefits to human health. Total Dissolved Solids found the
very low range is 9.44 mg/L in Aquafina’s water which is not only drinkable but also unsafe and dangerous for human body. It’s
a negative effect on our human health especially malnourished people’s health.
Keywords: Drinking Water, Mineral, Dissolve Solid, TDS, BDS, BSTI, WHO
1. Introduction
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh with the population of
over fifteen million people. [1]. It is one of the rising cities in
Bangladesh. The demand of pure drinking water is increasing
in all cities of Bangladesh. One cannot think about life without
water. Everyone use the water in their daily life for drinking,
washing, flashing, bathing, cooking, irrigation, building
construction and electricity and steam generating etc.
Different properties of water needs for users though it is
depend on the usages area. Properties of Drinking water must
feasible for health. The safe pure drinking water is also
considered to be pre-requisite for developing public health and
economic growth. Always, every thirsting people seek the safe
and pure mineral-able drinking water for filling their body
165 Mohammad Rafiqul Islam et al.: A Study on the TDS Level of Drinking Mineral Water in Bangladesh
demand at the near sites of them. In Bangladesh, all of peoples
are very blessed to their natural resources of water. But they
could not use it properly due to contamination of natural
resources. Population growth, global warming, rapid
industrialization, water, lack of adequate and improved
management of natural resources for water pollution is an
alarming rate. Presently, Underground and Surface polluted
water are purifying by the RO system for drinking purposes in
Bangladesh. The purified water quality for drinking has set by
Bangladesh Standard &Testing Institution (BSTI). The
institution has provided few standard codes which are
BDS1240 and BDS1414 for drinking water manufacturers.
Figure 1. Map of Dhaka City, Bangladesh.
American Journal of Applied Chemistry 2016; 4(5): 164-169 166
As per the BSTI standards, Total Dissolve Solids (TDS)
must be kept in the range of 0.00 to 500.00mg/L [2]. Although;
a minimum minerals for drinking water is not specifically
mentioned in their standard. According to the medical science,
the lower level of minerals (TDS) in water never benefits for
thirsting and malnourished people. Since 1990, Bangladesh
government has developed a private sector for producing the
mineral-able drinking water so that the peoples of country do
not suffer due to lack of mineral- able water. Since then, the
private sector is producing bottle drinking water (arsenic &
cyanide free) by reverse osmosis purification system. But,
they do not keep up and maintain the beneficial dissolved
minerals properly in their processed water.
Figure 2. Packaging Unite of Mineral Drinking Water.
In their laboratory analysis reports, their processed water
does not well found as per the standard. Most of the bottled
drinking water manufacturers are producing the desalinated,
de-mineralized water and selling to the local market by
labeling “Pure Mineral Water”.
The World Health Organization conducted a study that
exposed some health risks associated with drinking water
without dissolved minerals or TDS. Few of the risk include
kidney problems, gastrointestinal problems, bone density
issues, joint conditions and cardiovascular diseases etc [3].
According to their study, lower minerals (TDS) water
increased the dieresis (the production of urine) and increased
the eliminated calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium,
nitrate, sulfate and chloride ions from the body.
The limits of WHO for Hardness (Calcium & Magnesium)
in drinking water are 100-500 mg/L. Calcium & Magnesium
are also part of Total dissolved solids level. The Hardness is
mainly beneficial salts/minerals for human health. Main
contains of total hardness needs for dietary and also has more
beneficial effect on bone structure [4]. The presence of
dissolved solids in water may affect its flat, insipid taste like as
sour, sweet, metallic, salty and earthy, especially when
drinking it. In generally, the taste of lower mineral water is
sour, flat or no taste. Equally, higher mineral water is metallic,
salty, earthy etc. So, Total Dissolved Solids level of water can
also unacceptable to consumers because of its taste.
2. Manufacturing Process
Most of the mineral water industries are manufacturing the
mineral water by using the Reverse Osmosis system. The
system is a purification technology that uses a permeable
membrane to remove large healthy and unhealthy minerals,
organic & inorganic molecules, mono & multivalent ions,
from the untreated water and some bacteria, viruses. The pore
size of membrane filter is 0.0001 microns [5] which cannot
pass the minerals. Minerals shall do the balance of body ions
and energy. To balance the minerals, they do not add or drop
the necessary minerals or salts in their produced water.
Figure 3. Reverse Osmosis Unite of Mineral Drinking Water.
Due to the lack of accurate monitoring, they are producing
the desalinated /de-mineralized water and selling to the market
of Bangladesh randomly.
3. Materials and Method
3.1. Sample Collection
Different branded total eight number bottles of mineral
water (Size: 500 mL) were collected from different
confectionery shop in Dhaka city and storage at below 10°C in
the laboratory refrigerator. Then, we have analyzed the
dissolved solids (TDS) & total hardness as per the standard
methods which as follows;
EPA Method #160.1, Gravimetric and Dried at 180°C [6]
for the TDS analysis.
EPA Method 130.2, Titrimetric, EDTA [7] for the Total
Hardness analysis
3.2. Apparatus
For the analysis of total solids in different collected
drinking water sample, the following apparatus are used in the
laboratory-
� Filtration Unite, Glassco, UK (Glass Fiber Filter Disk,
2.1 cm, Air Suction Pump (Model Rocker-300), Suction
Flask 500ml)
� Evaporating dish 100 ml
167 Mohammad Rafiqul Islam et al.: A Study on the TDS Level of Drinking Mineral Water in Bangladesh
� Hot Plate(Model: AREC, Velp, Italy)
� Water Bath(Model:HH.S21.4)
� Drying Oven (Model:3606,Branstead)
� Desiccators
� Graduated cylinder 100 ml
� Analytical Balance (Model: EW 220-3NM, Kern,
Germany)
� Refrigerator (Model: RR-618MW, Rangs).
3.3. Sample Analysis Procedure
For measurement, the total dissolved solid of drinking water,
EPA Method #160.1, (Gravity metric and Dried at 180°C) is
used in the laboratory where the range of Total Dissolved
Solids is 10 to 20000.00 mg/l. 200 ml of each sample is
filtered through a standard filtration unite where has glass
fiber filter disk, glass beaker, membrane filter paper, vacuum
pump those were washed and cleaned properly. Transfer the
100 ml of each filtrate sample into the different prepared
weighing evaporating dishes using 100 ml graduated cylinders.
(Appropriately washed and cleaned the evaporating dishes at
550°C for an hour in Hot plate. Cool the evaporating dish in
desiccators and weigh immediately).
Each filtrate samples which were transferred is evaporated
and dried to constant weight at 180°C in Oven and cool in
desiccators before weighing the cooled evaporating dishes.
For determining the total hardness of water has determined
by complex-metric where Na2EDTA was used as complexion
agent and EBT (Eriochrom Black Tea) was used as indicator
For Total Hardness of water, method was EPA Method
130.2 (Titrimetric, EDTA) are used which is described
interference [7].
3.4. Calculation
To calculate the TDS of each sample will be as following
the formula where A will be after evaporating and dried
residue + evaporating dish and B will be before weighing the
evaporating dish.
TDS (mg/L) = (A-B) * 1000/ Volume of Each sample
4. Results and Discussions
Total Dissolve Solids (TDS) comprise inorganic salts and
the small amount of organic matter that are dissolved in water.
The principal ingredients are usually the cat-ions such as
calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium and the anions
such as carbonate, bicarbonate, nitrate, nitrite, chloride,
sulfate etc. Among them, some ions are essential and some
ions are avoidable to human health. If you electrolysis the
drinking water, you will get some minerals which could be
either beneficial or harmful minerals.
The maximum TDS level has mentioned but the minimum
level has no mentioned in the BSTI (Bangladesh Standard &
Testing Institution) guidelines. According to this guideline,
TDS level can be 0.00 mg/L in the drinking water where no
minerals have. Although, water can transparent, clear,
drinkable without the presence of minerals. But absence of
minerals in water, it will not be fulfilled the body demand and
found the taste. Therefore, necessary minerals require for
tasting and fulfilling the lack of minerals for malnourished
people’s health.
In our experiment data, maximum local branded drinking
water manufacturer does not maintain the minerals in their
purified water properly. They do not preserve the minerals
level in drinking bottled water. Rather, we get to see in their
processing, they release the healthy metals/ minerals (Ca2+
,
Mg2+
, Na+,CO3
2-,HCO3
-,Cl
-,& SO4
2-) and unhealthy/ toxic
metals/minerals (Pb2+
, Zn2+
, As3+
, CN-, Cd
2+, Cu
2+,& NO2
2-)
from the raw water by the using Reverse Osmosis system.
For drinking water, the USA recommended maximum Total
dissolved solids level is 500 mg/L[9], the Canadian guideline
suggests less than 1000 mg/L and maintains the minimum
level of TDS is 100 mg/L for drinking water [8, 9].
According to TDS level of safe drinking water is given
below [8, 9].
Poor: Less 100 mg/L
Excellent: 100 to 300 mg/L
Good: 300 to600 mg/L
Fair: 600 to 900 mg/L
Poor: 900to1200 mg/L
Equally, Total Hardness of water is not maintaining
properly in water manufacturer of Bangladesh. After
evaluating the available health, organoplating and other
information, the expertise team recommended that water
contain as follows;
(1) A minimum level of TDS is 100.00 mg/L, Bicarbonate
ions are 30.0 mg/L and Calcium 30.0 mg/L in drinking
water
(2) An optimum level of TDS is 250.0-500.0 mg/L and
Bi-carbonate 250.0-500.0 mg/L in drinking water
A maximum level of Alkalinity is 6.5 mg/L, Sodium is
200.00 mg/L, Boron is 0.50 mg/L and Bromine is 0.01 mg/L in
drinking water [9].
In the experiment data from Table-1, the TDS level of
Aquafina’s branded water is lower than the standard. There
is no found the both of beneficial and harmful minerals. It is
remarked that the possible bacterial contamination in the
lower TDS water which is also very harmful to human
health. All coliform bacteria do not cause for diseases.
However, some rare strains of E. coli, particularly the strain
0157:H7 can cause serious illness [10]. According to the
medical science, calcium, magnesium, potassium are the
beneficial components for bone, teethes and plays an
important role a co-factor than 300 enzymatic [3,9]
reactions in the body including glycol sis, ATP metabolism,
transport of minerals through membranes, synthesis of
proteins and nucleic acids, neuromuscular excitability and
muscle contraction.
The World Health Organization conducted a study that
exposed some health risks associated with drinking water
without minerals. Few of the risks include kidney problems,
gastrointestinal problems, bone density issues and
cardiovascular diseases etc. [3].
American Journal of Applied Chemistry 2016; 4(5): 164-169 168
Table 1. BSTI Guideline for Mineral Drinking water (Physical, Chemical & Microbiological) [2].
Sl/No. Parameters Unit Bangladesh Standard Value (BDS-1240, 2001 BSTI)
Physical Test
1 Colour Hz < 5.00 (Max.)
2 Taste - Agreeable
3 Odour (Cool & Hot) - Unobjectionable
Chemical Test
1 pH - 6.40~7.40
2 Total Dissolve Solids(TDS) mg/L <500 (Max.)
3 Total Conductivity µS/cm <800 (Max.)
4 Salinity mg/L <450 (Max.)
5 Total Hardness as CaCO3 mg/L <300 (Max.)
6 Chloride (Cl-) mg/L <250 (Max.)
7 Arsenic (As) mg/L <0.01 (Max.)
8 Total Iron (Fe) mg/L <0.30 (Max.)
9 Nitrate (NO3-) mg/L <4.50 (Max.)
10 Free Carbon dioxide mg/L <0.05 (Max.)
Biological Test
1 Total Coliform in 100 ml cfu Absent
2 Fecal Coliform in 100 ml cfu Absent
3 Plate Count in 1 ml cfu <1000 (Max.)
The kidneys are most important constant mineral’s
concentration through elimination and re-absorption. In
homeostasis, three body fluid are involved: Plasma (3/5 of the
blood Volume), Interstitial (fluid between cells), intracellular
(fluid inside the cells) [9]. The concentration of sodium ions is
the highest outside the cell and that of potassium ions is the
highest inside the cells. When the osmotic pressure is high on
one side of the cell membrane (higher concentration of
ions/minerals) and lower on the another side (low
concentration of ions/minerals), water moves across the cell
membrane from the dilute side toward another side to equalize
the osmotic pressure. This phenomenon is known Reverse
Osmosis process which is also using in the drinking water
manufacturer in nearby Dhaka City. The concentration of
normal ions or minerals of all these fluid is about 300 m M/L
[9]. Any changes from normal in ions or minerals
concentration across the cell membrane are corrected in one
minute or less because water moves quickly through cell
membranes.
Therefore, small changes in os-molality from drinking
water are quickly brought to equilibrium. The kidneys control
the overall concentration of the constituents of body fluid.
The typical kidneys filter approximately 180 liters of
plasma/day and each of the 3.0 liters of plasma gets filtered
about 60 times [11]. To replace this much water you would
have to drink a 12- ounce soft drink every 3 minutes of the day
fortunately 99% of the filtrate gets reabsorbed, leaving 1.5-2.0
liters of urine per day [9, 12, 13]. If the os-molality of the fluid
to be filtered by the kidney is lower than normal, nervous and
hormonal feedback mechanisms cause the kidney to excrete
more water than normal. Thus, the mineral’s concentration in
the blood and body fluids are quickly maintained by the
kidney through homeostasis. If homeostasis is not maintained
because of major diet deficiencies, diseases, consuming lower
minerals in drinking water would be minor causes.(If any)
factor in any observed symptoms, It is apparent that disease,
physiological dysfunction, or major nutritional deficiencies
many causes a “leaching” problems, but not consuming one to
two liters of lower TDS water on a daily basis.
Equally, if we see the few responses which have been
received from different experts in different fields:
An isolated report, a summary of Russian studies available
through the World Health Organization, has recommended
that fluid and electrolytes are better replaced with water
containing a minimum of 100 mg/L of TDS.” [9, 12]
WHO’s Dr. Gala-Gorchev states that WHO has “no
information that low minerals water would have an adverse
effect on minerals balance” [3, 9]
US EPA’ Dr. Edward V. Ohanian, Chief of Human Risk
Assessment Branch Wrote:
Drinking water supplies a number of minerals that are
important to human health. However, drinking water is
normally a minor source of these minerals. Typically, the diet
is the major source of these beneficial minerals. I am not
aware of any data adequate to support the conclusion that
water with lower levels of mineral is unsafe” [9]
Beside this, we know the U.S Army uses drinking water
plant to provide drinking water for their soldiers in their field.
They do not consider lower (less than 100 mg/L) to be a
problem and have no minimum.
5. Conclusion
More than twenty number drinking water plants are
established in Bangladesh very quickly. They are selling the
bottled drinking water to the confectionery shop, bus &
railway stations and public places. In hot seasons, most of the
peoples are thirst especially when they hard work and walk in
their working areas. In that time, they need mineral-able water
which can be fulfilled their body demand. But they do not get
the sufficient minerals to drink it from the bottled water which
is available in shops at their working site. As a result, they are
169 Mohammad Rafiqul Islam et al.: A Study on the TDS Level of Drinking Mineral Water in Bangladesh
depriving of the natural mineral which was present in the
natural water. Particularly, malnourished peoples of
Bangladesh are sufferings from the mineral free or unhealthy
RO water. In our study to determine the Total Dissolve Solids
(TDS) and Total Hardness level of bottled drinking water, we
have shown in the Table -2 where no sufficient minerals have
in the drinking water. It is very alarming stages. For this
reasons, we are depriving from the natural resources and
suffering for variety health diseases. Drinking water
manufacturer and user can get messages for awareness
through our study. One massage is deliver to water producers
and another massage deliver to users. Both should be awaked
for this subject matter.
Table 2. Analysis results in mg/L of TDS and Total Hardness in Drinking Bottled Water.
Brand→ Everest Spa Sena Fresh Mum Aquafina Jibon Pran
Total Dissolve Solids (TDS) as mg/L 140 335 *80.50 119.1 101 **9.44 *82.00 *90.00
Total Hardness as CaCO3 mg/L 72.78 150.38 *38.48 56.5 35.75 **4.35 *40.00 *45.85
Water manufacturers must be maintained the dissolved
mineral level in their processed water and equally users must
be also avoided the lower mineral-able water especially when
they will drink water. We all should awake regarding the
necessity of dissolved minerals. Finally, we all do the
followings before drinking.
A. Read the label before buying to see its content.
Generally, most brands have reasonable amounts of
minerals that will not give any undue disadvantages
B. Buy only new production bottled mineral water and not
old stock to reduce any chances of leached chemicals.
C. Do not leave bottled mineral water in an area exposed to
direct sunlight or heat, such as in parked cars on a hot
sunny day.
However, remember that not all brands are the same.
Mineral water comes from many sources and will not taste the
same or have the same mineral content.
Figure 4. TDS level at the different branded mineral drinking water bottle in
Dhaka City.
Figure 5. Concentration of Total Hardness level at the different branded
drinking water bottle in Dhaka City.
References
[1] http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/National%20Reports/Union%20Statistics.pdf
[2] http://www.bsti.gov.bd/list.html (Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution, BSTI).
[3] http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/hardness.pdf
[4] http://www.szu.cz/uploads/documents/chzp/voda/pdf/hardnesspdf
[5] http://www.wellsysusa.com/wellsysusa/pdfs/7%20%20Safewater%20org%20RO%20ultrafine%20nano%20comparision.pdf
[6] https://www.epa.gov/quality/total-dissolved-solids-tds-epa-method-1601-gravimetric-dried-180-degrees-c
[7] https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/201506/documents/130_2dqi_crf.pdf
[8] http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/publications/healthy-living-vie-saine/water-dissolved-solids-matieres-dissoutes-eau/alt/water-dissolved-solids-matieres-dissoutes-eau-eng.pdf
[9] https://www.wqa.org/Portals/0/Technical/Technical%20Fact%20Sheets/1993_ConsumptionOfLowTDSWater.pdf, (Water Quality Association Science Advisory Committee 1992-1993, USA)
[10] http://envsciencecenter.org/special-events/
[11] http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-eng/Biotech-Environ/Projects00/memfilt/kidneys.htm
[12] http://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/reverse-osmosis-water.html
[13] http://www.waterproblemsolvers.com/files/QuickSiteImages/TB-ConsumptionLowTDS.pdf, Reviewed by Dr. Lee T Rozelle, Dr. Ronald L. Wathen, M. D.
[14] http://bioline.org.br/request?st05050, (P. Jain, *J. D. Sharma, D. Sohu and P. Sharma Chemical analysis of drinking water of villages of Sanganer Tehsil, Jaipur District (Vol. 2, Num. 4, 2005-2006, pp. 373-379).
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