How to test the conductivity of water?

What is conductivity?

Water is closely related to our daily lives, whether it's for drinking, cooking, washing clothes, or industrial water quality monitoring. Electrical conductivity is a parameter used to test water quality. Through electrical conductivity, we can understand the condition of water quality. In simple terms, electrical conductivity is a measure of water's ability to conduct electricity, representing the concentration of dissolved ions and substances in water.

What instruments are needed to test conductivity?

Testing electrical conductivity requires the use of conductivity meters and sensors.

Common types of conductivity meters include handheld, portable, laboratory, and online versions.

The accompanying conductivity sensors, also known as conductivity probes or electrodes, come in various classifications. For example, they can be categorized based on usage scenarios into laboratory conductivity sensors and online conductivity sensors. They can also be classified based on whether they are digital electrodes, such as analog conductivity electrodes and digital conductivity electrodes. Furthermore, they can be categorized based on the number of electrodes, such as two-electrode conductivity electrodes and four-electrode conductivity electrodes. Additionally, conductivity sensors can be classified based on the manufacturing material, such as stainless steel conductivity electrodes and graphite conductivity electrodes.

If you're unsure about which type of conductivity meter and sensor to choose, please contact Daxin Company, and we will provide you with professional advice.

What do I need to prepare before testing conductivity?

The following takes the measurement process of an online conductivity meter as an example. We need to prepare: online conductivity meter and sensor, distilled or deionized water, water sample, calibration solution with suitable known conductivity value.

How to test the conductivity of water?

Step 1. Following the manufacturer's instructions, connect the online conductivity meter and sensor, ensure power is supplied, and rinse the conductivity sensor with distilled or deionized water to remove any contaminants or residues from previous use.

Step 2. Prepare the appropriate conductivity calibration solution and calibrate the conductivity meter according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 3. After calibration, carefully immerse the calibrated conductivity sensor probe into the water sample, ensuring the probe is fully submerged and does not touch the sides or bottom of the container.

Step 4. Wait for the conductivity meter to stabilize and read the conductivity value, which may take several seconds to minutes depending on the type of meter and the characteristics of the water sample.

Step 5. Once the conductivity meter reading stabilizes, record the displayed conductivity reading. Conductivity readings are typically expressed in units such as microsiemens per centimeter (μS/cm) or millisiemens per centimeter (mS/cm).

Step 6. If testing multiple water samples or repeating the test, repeat the above steps with additional samples. Rinse the conductivity sensor probe with distilled or deionized water between measurements to prevent cross-contamination.

Step 7. Compare the conductivity readings obtained from the water samples to reference values to assess whether the conductivity falls within the expected acceptable range.

In addition to conductivity, sometimes I also need to check TDS, salinity, and resistivity. Is there an online meter that can display conductivity, total solid solubility, salinity, and resistivity?

Yes.In addition to conductivity, parameters such as total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, and resistivity are also closely related to water quality. Daxin Company manufactures online instruments that can display conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, and resistivity. These instruments are easy to use, requiring only a simple switch of buttons to effortlessly view the desired parameters.

What are the uses and applications of conductivity measurement?

Conductivity measurement is applied across many industries, involving:

-Water Quality Monitoring: Conductivity is widely used in water quality monitoring to assess the purity and contamination levels of drinking water, industrial water, wastewater, and environmental water bodies.

-Agriculture: Conductivity is used in agriculture to monitor soil salinity and irrigation water quality, aiding in optimizing crop growth and preventing soil degradation.

-Environmental Monitoring: Conductivity is utilized in environmental monitoring projects to evaluate the health of aquatic ecosystems, measure salinity levels in rivers, lakes, and oceans, and detect pollution and contamination in water bodies.

-Laboratory Analysis: Conductivity measurement is a standard technique in laboratory analysis for quantifying the concentration of ions in aqueous solutions, determining the conductivity of electrolytes, and studying chemical reactions and electrochemical processes.

-Boiler and Cooling Water Treatment: In industrial boiler and cooling water systems, conductivity is used to monitor water purity, prevent scale formation, and optimize chemical treatment programs, thus extending equipment lifespan and improving energy efficiency.

-Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Water Purification: In RO systems and water purification processes, conductivity is employed to monitor water quality, assess membrane performance, and detect leaks or malfunctions in the treatment system.

-Desalination: In desalination plants, conductivity is used to monitor process efficiency, evaluate salt concentration in produced water, and ensure compliance with drinking water quality standards.

-Hydroponics and Aquaponics: Conductivity is crucial in hydroponic and aquaponic systems for monitoring nutrient levels in nutrient solutions, maintaining optimal growing conditions for plants, and maximizing crop yield in soilless farming environments.

Overall, conductivity measurement is widely applied and important for assessing water quality, monitoring industrial processes, ensuring environmental compliance, and more.

As the impact of good water quality on modern life becomes increasingly important, Daxin Company, a manufacturer specializing in water quality instruments and sensors for the past 10 years, is willing to collaborate with everyone to contribute to better water quality testing.