LabQuest 4

Total Solids
INTRODUCTION
Total solids, TS, is a measure of all the suspended, colloidal, and dissolved solids in a sample of
water. While turbidity looks at the lack of clarity due to suspended solids in a body of water, total
solids includes dissolved salts such as sodium chloride, and solid particles such as silt and
plankton. An excess of total solids in rivers and streams is a very common problem. The

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Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Quality Inventory1 has concluded that
siltation, one of the primary contributors to total solids, is the most common pollutant of the
streams and rivers they sampled.

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Many factors can contribute to the total solids in water. Soil erosion is a large contributor. An
increase in water flow or a decrease in stream-bank vegetation can speed up the process of soil
erosion and contribute to the levels of suspended particles such as clay and silt. Naturally
occurring rocks or minerals in the soil such as halite, NaCl, or limestone, CaCO 3, may also
dissolve into the water, adding to the total solids.

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Total solids can also come from various types of runoff. Agricultural runoff often contains
fertilizers and suspended soil particles. Other sources include industrial waste, effluent from water
treatment plants, and urban runoff from parking lots, roads, and rooftops.
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Bottom-dwelling aquatic organisms, such as catfish, can contribute to the total solids in the water
by stirring up the sediment that has built up on the bottom of the stream. Organic matter such as
plankton or decaying plant and animal matter that are suspended in the water will also add to the
total solids in a stream.
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Dissolved solids often make a significant contribution to the amount of total solids in water. In
fact, the mass of the dissolved solids is sometimes higher than the mass of the suspended
particles. Dissolved solids in freshwater samples include soluble salts that yield ions such as
calcium, chloride, bicarbonate, nitrates, phosphates, and iron.
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If the level of total solids is too high or too low, it can impact the health of the stream and the
organisms that live there. High levels of total solids will reduce the clarity of the water. This
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decreases the amount of sunlight able to penetrate the water, thereby decreasing the
photosynthetic rate. Reduced clarity also makes the water less aesthetically pleasing. While this
may not be harmful directly, it is certainly undesirable for many water uses. When the water is
cloudy, sunlight will warm it more efficiently. This occurs because the suspended particles in the
water absorb the sunlight which, in turn, warm the surrounding water. This leads to other
problems associated with increased temperature levels.

1 From the EPA’s Office of Water web site at water.epa.gov

Water Quality with Vernier © Vernier Software & Technology 4-1

Test 4

As previously mentioned, dissolved solids often make a large contribution to total solids. The
correct balance of dissolved solids in the water is essential to the health of aquatic organisms for
several reasons. One reason is that many of these dissolved materials are essential nutrients for the
general health of aquatic organisms. Another reason is that the transport of ions through cellular
membranes is dependent on the total ionic strength of the water. Too many dissolved salts in the
water can dehydrate aquatic organisms. Too few dissolved salts, however, can limit the growth of
aquatic organisms that depend on them as nutrients.

MATERIALS
sampling bottles
100 mL graduated cylinder
two 250 mL beakers
drying oven
analytical balance (0.001 g)
tongs or gloves to hold beaker

COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF SAMPLES

l This test must be conducted in the lab. Collect 500 mL of sample water so that you can run
two 200 mL trials. Note: If your stream or lake could have low levels of total solids, then
collect a larger sample volume (see Step 5 of the Testing Procedure).
l It is important to obtain the water sample from below the surface of the water and as far
away from the shore as is safe. If suitable areas of the body of the water appear to be
unreachable, samplers consisting of a rod and container can be constructed for collection.
l Stand upstream from any activity that could stir up sediment and affect your readings. Hold
the sample bottle upstream from your body.
l If the testing cannot be conducted within a few hours, place the samples in an ice chest or a
refrigerator.

PROCEDURE
Day 1
1. Prepare two 250 mL beakers for drying and sample evaporation.
a. Carefully clean two 250 mL beakers and place them in a drying oven at 100–105°C for at
least one hour to dry.
b. Using tongs or gloves, remove the beakers from the oven and allow them to cool.
Note: From this point on, always handle the beakers with tongs or gloves to prevent the
oils on your hands from affecting the masses of the beakers.
c. Using a pencil, number your beakers “1” and “2”. Do not use labeling tape.

4-2 Water Quality with Vernier

 Total Solids

d. Use an analytical balance to measure the mass of each beaker. Record the values on the
Data sheet (round to the nearest 0.001 g).
e. If you complete Step 1 before collecting your samples, store the beakers in a clean, dry,
dust-free space until you return to the lab.

2. Transfer the samples to the beakers.

a. Remove any large particles, such as twigs or insects, from the sample water.
b. Swirl the samples to attain uniformity of suspended particles.
c. Using a 100 mL graduated cylinder, carefully measure 200 mL of sample water into each
beaker.

3. Using tongs or gloves, place the beakers into the oven and allow the water to evaporate
overnight at a temperature of around 100–105°C.

Day 2
4. Measure the mass of the beakers and solids.
a. Using tongs or gloves, remove the beakers from the oven and place them in a desiccator,
if available, to cool. A desiccator will keep the samples from absorbing any water from
the air that would increase their mass. If no desiccator is available, the beakers can be
cooled on a table top. Proceed to the next step as soon as possible to minimize any
absorption of water.
b. Use an analytical balance to measure the mass of each beaker with the solids now left
behind. Record the values on the Data sheet (round to the nearest 0.001 g).
c. Obtain the mass of the solids by subtracting the mass of the empty beaker from the mass
of the beaker with the solids. If the mass of the solids is less than 0.025 g, proceed to
Step 5. If the mass of the solids is at least 0.025 g, proceed to Step 6.

5. If the mass of the solids is less than 0.025 g, add another 200 mL of sample to each beaker
and repeat Steps 3 and 4. Make a note on the Data sheet that your total volume is now
400 mL instead of 200 mL.
6. Record the mass of the solids on the Data sheet (round to the nearest 0.001 g).

7. If using Data Matrix mode for collecting other water quality data, use the steps below to add
the total solids value to that file.
a. Choose Open from the File menu.
b. Select the appropriate file and tap Open.
c. Tap on the Table tab to display the data table.
d. Choose New Manual Column from the Table menu.

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Test 4

e. Enter Total Solids as the name and mg/L as the units. Tap OK.
f. Tap in the cell of the correct date and location the sample was collected. Manually enter
the Total Solids data you have calculated.

DATA
Site Information

Name of site

Date of collection

Time of collection

Group members

Field Observations (e.g., weather, geography, and vegetation along stream)

Test Results

Beaker Mass of Mass of Mass of Mass of solids Total volume Total solids
empty beaker solids (mg) (L) (mg/L)
beaker plus solids (g)
(g) (g)

Average TS
(mg/L)

Date test completed

Time test completed

Test completed by

4-4 Water Quality with Vernier

 Vernier Lab Safety
Instructions Disclaimer
THIS IS AN EVALUATION COPY OF THE VERNIER STUDENT LAB.

This copy does not include:

l Safety information
l Essential instructor background information
l Directions for preparing solutions
l Important tips for successfully performing this test

The complete Water Quality with Vernier lab manual includes 18 tests and essential
teacher information. The full lab book is available for purchase at www.vernier.com/wqv

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