TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS

A measure of the solid materials in the river water that are capable of settling out on the stream bottom when stream velocities are sufficiently low. Not all of the materials that contribute to turbidity contribute to total suspended solids. Specifically, living materials are more or less the density of water and so will not settle out to the bottom.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING TEST KITS:

1. Support an Imhoff Cone in a ring stand or some other suitable support. Fill it to the 1000 ml level with river water taken from the middle of the river a couple of inches below the surface. Do not disturb the river bottom in taking your sample.

2. Let the water stand for 15 minutes as materials settle out. Gently swirl the cone to loosen materials on the sides of the cone. Let stand for an additional 15 minutes.

3. Read the suspended solids content of the river water directly on the cone in ml/l. (This is essentially equivalent to mg/l).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

If your sample had more than 1580 ppm, you have a problem.

EFFECTS OF TOO MANY TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS:

• Too much silt and clay in the stream
• Water clarity is reduced and turbidity increased
• Decrease in photosynthesis
• Can bind with toxic compounds and heavy metals
• Increase water temperature (refer to the Temperature test)

WHERE IS THIS STUFF COMING FROM?:

• Recent local housing projects constructed?
• If you're sampling in the spring, was there a recent snow?
• How stable are the stream banks near your site?
• If it's Fall, are the leaves falling and decaying yet?
• Are there quarries upstream?
• Do land uses upstream (e.g. farming) promote excessive erosion?

What happens to the leaves in the street after a rain?

*IS THERE ANY WAY TO LOWER THE TSS IN YOUR AREA?

*Click here to return to the Water Quality Index Menu

*Click here to return to the NORP Main Menu