EVT 525 WATER RESOURCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
AS2293A
EXPERIMENT 2 TOTAL SOLIDS (TS)
NAME:
MUHAMAD FADZRIL B AFINDI (2014860708)
GROUP MEMBERS:
ANWAR IZZATY ZAMANI B MUSTAFA (2014282498)
FAIZAL B ALIAS (2014225942)
MOHD FAHMI B MOHD YUSOF (2014415098)
MUHAMMAD AZRIN B HASSAN (2014654378)
NAME OF LECTURER:
DR NIK AZLIN BT NIK ARIFFIN
DATE OF EXPERIMENT:
01/10/15
DATE OF SUBMISSION:
08/10/15

INTRODUCTION
Total solids is a measure of the suspended and dissolved solids in water.
Suspended solids are those that can be retained on a water filter and are capable of
settling out of the water column onto the stream bottom when stream velocities are
low. They include silt, clay, plankton, organic wastes, and inorganic precipitates such
as those from acid mine drainage. Dissolved solids are those that pass through a
water filter. They include some organic materials, as well as salts, inorganic nutrients,
and toxins.
The concentration of dissolved solids in stream water is important because it
determines the flow of water in and out of the cells of aquatic organisms. Also, some
dissolved inorganic elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur are nutrients
essential for life. Low concentrations of total solids can result in limited growth of
aquatic organisms due to nutrient deficiencies. Elevated levels of total solids,
however, can lead to eutrophication of the stream or increased turbidity. Both
eutrophication and increased turbidity result in a decrease in stream water quality.
Elevated concentrations of total solids may indicate the presence of
agricultural activities, dredging, or mining upstream from your sample site.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the total solids in the given water sample.

PROCEDURES
1. The water sample was shaken thoroughly to homogenise it.
2. 5 ml of sample was pipetted into the weighed porcelain crucibles or evaporating
dish, which has been cleaned and dried to a constant weight in an oven previously.
3. The water was evaporated off on a steam bath until dry and then it was dried in an
oven at 105 for one hour.
4. The porcelain crucibles or evaporating dish was cooled in a dessicator before it
was weighing. The drying was repeated until constant weight is obtained.

DATA/RESULTS

Results and calculation:

Temperature: 29.44C
DO%: 2.9
pH: 8.62
Sample

Volume
(ml)

1
2
3

5
5
5

Initial weight
(g)
(empty
crucible)
30.9243
33.0067
34.6892

Weight of
crucible +
water(g)

Weight of Water
(g)

Weight of crucible
+ remaining
solid(g)

35.9339
37.9920
39.7145

5.0096
4.9853
5.0253

30.9249
33.0074
34.7059

Calculations:
Total Solids (TS)

AB
10 6
C

1)

30.924930.9243
10 6
5.0096

= 119.8 ppm

2)

33.007433.0067
106
4.9853

= 140.4 ppm

3)

34.705934.6892
6
10
5.0253

= 3323.2ppm

DISCUSSION
Volume of sample taken is 5 mL. The sample was taken from the recreation
lake at the section 6 Shah Alam. Based on the experiment,the weight of water
sample recorded was 5 g. The solids used was a sample that been dried
for 1 hour. The weight of total solids recorded was 119.8 ppm for sample 1 and the
weight of total solids for sample 2 is 140.4 ppm. For the sample 3 was 3323.2 ppm.
For the sample 1 and 2, the weight of water sample was different from the another
sample because the the water sample does not homogenous thoroughly during the
the water transfer. Finally, based on the types of solids in the given sample, we can
make calculation that need to be done for the sample.

CONCLUSIONS
From the conclusion, we can conclude that the water sample from water
sample 3 are not acceptable because it has bigger values from the another sample
which is sample 1 and 2. The value obtained for sample 3 was 3 is 3233.2 ppm. So
that the value for sample 1 and 2 can be acceptable.

PRECAUTION
samples may need to be dried for a longer period of time, cooled under proper
desiccation and weighed rapidly in order to achieve a reasonable constant weight.
We should be aware prolonged drying may result in loss of constituents, particularly
nitrates and chlorides.

Questions:
1. Name the various TS that can be found in wastewater.
Dissolved solids
Suspended solids
No soluble solids

2. What are the environmental impacts of TS?

A high concentration of total solids will make drinking water unpalatable and
might have an adverse effect on people who are not used to drinking such water.
Levels of total solids that are too high or too low can also reduce the efficiency of
wastewater treatment plants, as well as the operation of industrial processes that use
raw water. Total solids also affect water clarity. Higher solids decrease the passage of
light through water, thereby slowing photosynthesis by aquatic plants. Water will heat
up more rapidly and hold more heat; this, in turn, might adversely affect aquatic life
that has adapted to a lower temperature regime.
3. Explain effect of total solids on wastewater treatment plant.
Many rural areas do not have wastewater collection systems
(sewerage

systems)

to

convey

domestic

wastewater

to

the

treatment plant. These dwellings have septic tanks and leaching

fields to store solids and treat the wastewater in an onsite
subsurface soil treatment system.

4. List four possible sources of error in this determination.

i.

Samples may not dry for a longer period of time, cooled under proper

ii.

desiccation.
Non representative particulates such as leaves, sticks, fish and lumps of fecal

iii.
iv.

matter should not be included from the sample.

Volume of sample has not been adjusted properly to have residue left.
The samples were not weighed properly in order to achieve a reasonable
constant weight.

REFERENCES
1. http://www.eolss.net/eolsssamplechapters/c06/e6-13-04-05/e6-13-04-05-txt04.aspx
2. http://water.epa.gov/type/rsl/monitoring/vms58.cfm
3. http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/waterq3/WQassess4g.html