Does the total dissolved solids (TDS) affect the taste of water?
A. Yes. If your water has a moderate to high total dissolved solids content, then merely filtering the water of chlorine will improve taste, but many people will say the water still tastes “heavy” or “minerally” compared to purified water. Taste is very subjective, and the ability to taste varies widely from person to person. The higher the TDS level, particularly when it reaches over 500 PPM (the USEPA recommended aesthetic guideline) the more people will want to purify the water by using reverse osmosis or distillation, or by purchasing bottled water. However, in areas where the TDS is low, carbon filtering the water can make it taste great, without the need for further filtration. Q.
