Water 101 6 MIN READ

Does Clearly Filtered Target Total Dissolved Solids?

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Would you treat an avocado the same as a deep-fried Twinkie just because they both contain fat?

Of course not: One fuels your brain. The other can clog your arteries...

Yet this kind of mistake happens all the time—especially with water.

People stick a TDS meter in their glass, see a number above zero, and assume something must be wrong... but a reading above zero doesn’t necessarily mean your water is unsafe. In fact, it could mean it’s full of healthy minerals your body actually needs.

TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids.

It's the total amount of minerals, salts, metals, and other microscopic particles in your water. These solids are so small you can’t see them, but a TDS meter can detect them.

And just like fats, not all dissolved solids are bad.

Unsaturated fats (like those in avocados, nuts, and olive oil) are good for your heart, brain, and hormones. Saturated and trans fats (like those in fried snacks and processed foods) are linked to clogged arteries and chronic disease.

TDS works the same way.

It’s not the presence that’s the problem—it’s the type that matters.

Let's dive into the real truth about TDS, why our filters don't remove all TDS, and why that might be one of the best things about them.

Are All TDS Harmful?

When it comes to TDS in your water, it's important to remember that

TDS is not an accurate indication of water quality, safety, and cleanliness. 

It simply tells you how many dissolved solids are present—not what those solids actually are.

Think of it like counting calories without knowing where they come from—500 calories of kale is very different from 500 calories of candy.

How TDS Meters Work (And What the Numbers Mean)

TDS meters measure the electrical conductivity of your water and converts that into a number estimating the volume of Total Dissolved Solids, typically shown in parts per million (ppm).

Most household TDS meters read from 0 up to 999 ppm or more.

Here’s how to interpret the reading:

  • 0–50 ppm: Very low. Often from distilled or reverse osmosis water.

  • 50–150 ppm: Common in filtered water.

  • 150–300 ppm: Typical for spring or mineral-rich bottled water.

  • 300–500 ppm: Still within the EPA’s secondary guideline for taste and aesthetics.

  • >500 ppm: May taste salty or metallic and likely contains excess minerals or contaminants.

A reading above 5, 50, or even 150 ppm doesn’t always mean your water is "bad," and a reading below 150, 50, or 5ppm doesn’t always mean "good" either.

The bottom line is TDS just means “stuff is in the water” and what matters is what that stuff is—which is what an ordinary TDS meter can't tell you.

Good TDS

A certain amount of TDS is normal, harmless, and in some cases, beneficial.

Here are some of the dissolved solids your body actually wants:

  • Calcium – supports bone health and muscle function

  • Magnesium – aids in energy production and nerve health

  • Potassium – helps regulate blood pressure and heart rhythm

  • Sodium – necessary in small amounts for hydration balance

  • Bicarbonate – helps maintain pH balance in the body

  • Silica – may support healthy skin, hair, and nails

These “good” TDS can contribute to hydration, performance, and taste.

You’ll even find them in bottled waters like Evian or San Pellegrino, which often have TDS readings over 250 ppm.

Bottled water is far from perfect, but even luxury brands understand that zero TDS isn’t the goal. Their mineral content (and higher TDS) is part of the appeal.

Bad TDS

These are the dissolved solids you don’t want lingering in your glass:

  • Lead – linked to neurological and developmental damage

  • Arsenic – a known carcinogen linked to several types of cancer

  • PFAS (“forever chemicals”) – disrupt hormones and increase cancer risk

  • Chromium-6 – associated with cancer and organ damage

  • Fluoride (in excess) – can cause dental or skeletal fluorosis

  • Disinfection byproducts – like chlorate and trihalomethanes

  • Pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceutical residues – increasingly found in tap water

This is where most filters fall short—removing some TDS, but not the worst offenders.

Why TDS Meters Miss the Bigger Picture

TDS meters can’t detect the actual contaminants in your water—they only measure what’s charged enough to conduct electricity.

That means:

  • They won’t detect “uncharged” contaminants like PFAS or pharmaceuticals.

  • They can’t measure the concentration or toxicity of what’s present.

  • They may even show higher readings after filtration if healthy minerals remain—and the electrical charge shifts (this can happen with Clearly Filtered).

So if your TDS reading goes up after filtering, don’t panic. It could be a sign your filter is working—especially if you're using Clearly Filtered to keep your water clean and safe.

What Happens When You Remove All TDS?

When water has a TDS reading of 0, it means all dissolved solids—good and bad—have been stripped away.

This is often what happens with distillation and reverse osmosis (RO) systems.

They remove everything, including essential electrolytes and minerals your body actually needs to stay hydrated, balanced, and healthy.

Here are a few reasons why zero-TDS water is not ideal:

  • Flat taste: Without minerals like calcium and magnesium, water often tastes flat, bitter, or even metallic. Some even call it "dead" water.

  • Missing nutrients: Electrolytes like potassium and magnesium support energy, muscle function, and fluid balance. Removing them may leave you drinking “pure” water that offers little nutritional value.

  • Often requires remineralization: Many RO users remineralize their water after filtration. It's an added expense and hassle that proves some solids are in fact "good."

So while zero-TDS water may be free of contaminants, it also could be free of everything your body actually benefits from.

It’s not always better. Instead, it might just be empty.

Why Most Filters Miss the Mark

A TDS reading of 0 means your water has no dissolved solids at all (not even healthy minerals). This is typically the result of purification or reverse osmosis filtration.

Meanwhile, ordinary carbon filters may do little more than improve taste or remove chlorine, leaving harmful solids like lead, PFAS, and arsenic behind.

That means you’re often left choosing between two extremes:

  1. Strip out everything—including what your body actually needs

  2. Leave in too much—and risk drinking harmful solids

That’s where Clearly Filtered comes in...

What Makes Clearly Filtered Different?

Unlike other filtration technologies, our advanced Affinity® Filtration Technology recognizes what should stay and what should go.

That's why our breakthrough water filters are the only ones that target up to 365+ contaminants and solids ordinary filters miss—without removing healthy minerals from your water.

The result is clean, safe, healthy water that still contains the healthy solids your body wants.

So while our filtered water may not always read zero on a TDS meter, you now know why that could actually be a good thing for you and yours.

Why We Prioritize Performance Data Over TDS (And Why You Should, Too)

Our advanced Affinity Filtration Technology uses several filtration media as well as an ionic adsorption process that can leave water with a slightly positive charge after filtration.

That means our filters can actually raise TDS readings—even though nothing has been added to the water. It's simply a result of how our filters target the bad—and leave the good.

If anything, the higher measurement proves that the filter is working. 

That's why rather than relying on TDS levels, we rigorously test our filters and publish the performance data publicly for everyone to see.

This level of transparency is rare in the industry. And a clear sign of the safety and efficacy behind our filters—backed by real data.

That's because performance data pinpoints specific contaminants targeted and removed, as opposed to lumping all solids—good and bad—together.

Think of it this way: a TDS meter is like a bathroom scale. It tells you how much is there—but not what it’s made of.

Performance data, on the other hand, is like a blood test. It tells you exactly what’s going on inside—and what shouldn’t be there.

We invite you to view our performance data here.

And shop our entire line of advanced filtration systems here so that you always have easy access to clean, healthy water that protects from from the bad without sacrificing the good.

Get complete confidence in your water