Many people are looking for Berkey water TDS information but let's first take a look at this.

In 2015, over 20 million people in the US relied on water systems that violated safety standards. Clearly, we are a long way from everyone having access to clean drinking water.

However, even those who are fortunate enough to have access to clean drinking water may not be in the clear. The standard of drinking water is measured at the treatment facility, not in your home. That means potential contamination in the pipes could remain undetected.

That is, unless you use a Berkey water filter.

By using a water filter at home, you can be sure that your water is perfectly safe. There's no need to worry about issues with your water facility or pipes. All your water passes through the filter, making it suitable for drinking.

Berkey has long been a favorite in the water filter community. The filter standard is one of the highest in the industry. Their complex design handles multiple levels of contaminants.

But something strange happens when Berkey water filters are subject to a TDS meter. They may seem to fail the TDS test.

Surprisingly, this is actually a good thing! Read on to find out how and why.

What is a TDS Meter?

A TDS meter measures the amount of total dissolvable solids (TDS) in water. For example, it can detect if there are heavy metals in the water. That helps users to avoid drinking water contaminated by bad pipes or other issues.

TDS meters often say that Berkey filter water still contains dissolvable solids. Why might a Berkey filter not pass a TDS meter test?

Continue reading for more info on Berkey water TDS tests.

Why TDS Meters and Berkey Filters Aren't Compatible

Heavy metals aren't the only type of dissolvable solids the meters measure. Another kind is major and trace minerals.

Minerals that are naturally found in safe drinking water are very beneficial for your health, as we will go on to explain. The advanced design of a Berkey filter keeps healthy minerals in the water. But it removes bad dissolvable solids, such as heavy metals.

Therefore, a TDS meter may show that Berkey water still has high TDS levels. But any dissolvable solid left in the water is deliberate, and done so for your benefit!

Examples of Beneficial Minerals

Specifically, here are some minerals that Berkey filters purposely keep in their water. Depending on the TDS meter, these may show up as dissolved solids. But here's why it's a good thing they keep them in.

Sodium

Sodium is a crucial mineral for the body as it regulates your hydration. Correct sodium levels ensure you actually benefit from the water your drink, rather than it passing straight through you! Maintaining good hydration levels helps the body to function well in all other areas.

Calcium

Calcium is one of the best minerals for your bone health. Many people struggle to take in enough calcium, perhaps because they don't consume dairy. Hence, it's a popular supplement.

Calcium also contributes to your heart and dental health! It's definitely beneficial to leave the mineral in your drinking water.

Phosphorous

Phosphorous helps the body balance itself by keeping other mineral levels in check. And on its own, phosphorous helps with growth and repair in the body. In particular, it's very beneficial to dental health.

Magnesium

If your magnesium levels are too low, it can lead to cardiovascular issues. These include high blood pressure and even heart disease. Proper levels of magnesium help the body with proper nerve function and energy.

Potassium

Correct potassium levels in the body contribute to proper nerve and muscle function. It also helps to send oxygen to the brain and maintain healthy blood pressure.

Chloride

Chloride benefits the entire body. Within each cell, it helps to manage oxygen and carbon dioxide flow. This is a vital bodily process.

On top of that, chloride helps with digestion and pH levels in the body. It also helps your nerves and muscles to work properly.

Sulfur

This mineral helps to keep your skin, nails, and hair healthy. Without enough sulfur, all of these areas suffer. A deficiency can lead to skin rashes and brittle hair and nails.

Trace Minerals

Besides these major minerals, your drinking water should contain other trace minerals. These include:

• Chromium
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Fluoride
• Iodine
• Iron
• Manganese
• Molybdenum
• Selenium
• Silica
• Zinc

Here's how each of them supports your health.

Balanced chromium levels support healthy cell energy levels. It can also help to reduce glucose levels in the body.

Cobalt helps the body produce hemoglobin. This is vital for moving oxygen around the body. Cobalt can also help your body absorb other vitamins, and protect your nerve cells.

Copper serves a similar role in the body to cobalt, helping with hemoglobin formation. On top of that, it supports your immune system and helps the body absorb the iron it needs.

Fluoride is such a beneficial mineral in drinking water that some places add more of it! Fluoride supports your dental health by protecting against tooth decay and other issues.

Iodine helps the body's hormones stay in balance. In particular, it supports the thyroid. Thyroid hormones contribute to healthy cells and well-functioning metabolism.

More Trace Minerals

Iron is even more crucial to red blood cell production than cobalt and copper. It helps in areas across the body, from better sleep to better memory.

Manganese helps the body form and maintain tissue and bones. It also supports hormone production and a healthy metabolism.

Molybdenum helps the body deal with any bad substances that enter the body. It also contributes to processing proteins and enzyme production.

Selenium helps several areas of the body, from your immune system to thyroid hormone production. It also keeps your hair and nails strong and healthy.

Silica is a necessary mineral for your heart. it keeps your cholesterol in check and manages inflammation.

Finally, zinc supports your immune system and metabolism. Plus, it contributes to heart and blood health.

The Dangers of Over-Purified Water

Just because water passes a TDS meter doesn't mean it's healthy to drink. It is not a sign of good water quality.

Water that passes a TDS meter may not contain enough of these minerals to be truly beneficial.

In its natural state, water is full of minerals. As explained, minerals like sodium are necessary to absorb the water you're drinking. But the water that passes a TDS meter doesn't contain these minerals.

So what happens when you drink water that doesn't contain these minerals? Water will naturally absorb it from other places. In other words, it will take the minerals from your own body.

That's right; over-purified water robs your body of minerals it needs to function! While it's better than drinking contaminated water, over-purified water is not the healthiest option.

What Doesn't a TDS Meter Measure?

Even worse, TDS meters don't test other criteria that are necessary for drinking water to be safe.

For example, the pH level of water is very important. It needs to be neither acidic nor alkaline. Dangerously acidic water may still pass a TDS meter, but you shouldn't drink it!

Water can also hold other contaminants that a TDS meter won't pick up on. 

Biological, chemical, and pharmaceutical contaminants are some of the most common issues of this kind. Water containing caffeine, ibuprofen, or other unwanted toxins may pass a TDS test. That does not mean it's safe to drink.

A TDS meter also doesn't measure water color, odor, turbidity, and hardness. But with the right filter, you can make sure your drinking water has none of these issues.

How Berkey Water Filters Make Safer Water

Berkey filters are designed to stop not just heavy metals, but all of these contaminants.

But the water is not over-purified to the point it offers no benefit. The healthy minerals that we should be consuming are still allowed to pass through.

That makes for the best possible drinking water for your home - water that supports your health as it should!

Invest in Berkey Filters Today!

A TDS meter is not the best way to measure your water quality. Its measurements show you how many total dissolvable solids are in your water, regardless of whether they're beneficial. And it doesn't detect other issues with your water that can pose a risk.

Drinking Berkey water is a much better guarantee of quality. Each of the specially designed filters makes the water safer. But the beneficial minerals stay in.

To reap the benefits of Berkey water for your family today, take a look at our product line. We have the perfect filter for your family!