Water with a low concentration of Total dissolved solids (TDS) of water. Freshwater typically contains less than 1,000 mg/l (1,000 ppm) of dissolved solids and is generally accepted as suitable for withdrawal for conventional human uses, including drinking water (often with some level of treatment).
The most common range of TDS for Drinking water is between 100 and 600 mg/l.
What is ‘acceptable’ is mostly dependent on taste. At higher TDS, water starts to taste salty. For some communities, 1,000 mg/l is considered too high, while others tolerate it.
Some communities, for example in the Middle East, often refer to fresh water as ‘sweet water’, on the basis it has a better taste than higher TDS water.
