a study on the tds level of drinking mineral water in bangladesh

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


� 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


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).

a study on the tds level of drinking mineral water in bangladesh

Documents