Scribd
Upload
27 views

Measuring Salinity (EC) : Commonly Used Units of Measurement

This document discusses measuring salinity through electrical conductivity (EC). It defines various terms related to salinity like total dissolved solids (TDS) and total soluble salts (TSS). It provides commonly used units to measure salinity such as parts per million (ppm), milligrams per litre (mg/l), and microsiemens per centimetre (μS/cm). Formulas are given to convert between units like decisiemens per metre (dS/m), millisiemens per cm (mS/cm), and ppm. Surface water salinity is generally reported in EC units while groundwater uses ppm.

Uploaded by

Ngatchie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
27 views

Measuring Salinity (EC) : Commonly Used Units of Measurement

This document discusses measuring salinity through electrical conductivity (EC). It defines various terms related to salinity like total dissolved solids (TDS) and total soluble salts (TSS). It provides commonly used units to measure salinity such as parts per million (ppm), milligrams per litre (mg/l), and microsiemens per centimetre (μS/cm). Formulas are given to convert between units like decisiemens per metre (dS/m), millisiemens per cm (mS/cm), and ppm. Surface water salinity is generally reported in EC units while groundwater uses ppm.

Uploaded by

Ngatchie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Measuring Salinity (EC)

Salinity is the measure of the concentration of dissolved (soluble) salts in water from all sources. As
temperature is important in salinity calculation (usually measured at 25C), most EC meters have a built-in
temperature compensation. This means that water samples can be measured quickly and accurately in the
field.

TDS and TSS are measured by different processes but can be generally thought of as the same. Sodium
Chloride (NaCl) is the dominant salt usually found in stream sampling; however other salts will also be
registered with EC readings (e.g. carbonate and bi-carbonate salts, magnesium and calcium sulfates,
potassium).

EC = electrical conductivity
TDS = total dissolved solids
TSS = total soluble salts

Commonly used units of measurement:
ppm = parts per million
mg/l = milligrams per litre
S/cm = microseimens per centimetre (Recognised EC units)
mS/cm = milliseimens per centimetre
dS/m = decisiemens per metre

Surface water salinity is generally described by the units Electrical Conductivity (EC).
Groundwater salinity is generally described by the units parts per million (PPM).
Scientific reports generally quote the units of measurement as decisiemens per metre (dS/m).

Conversion for units used to measure salinity:


1 dS/m
(decisiemens
per metre)

= 1
mS/cm
(milliseimen
s per cm)


= 1,000 EC
S/cm
(microsiemen
s per cm)

= approximately *550 ppm

(parts per million -TDS)
(and milligrams per litre - mg/l)


*depending on the types of salts present

Simply times (x) EC (S/cm) by .55 to get an approximate ppm equivalent.
To convert TDS - ppm back to EC units you divide the ppm value by .55.


Parts Per Million (ppm) can be thought of as the same as milligrams per litre (mg/L)


1 (gpg, grains per gallon)


= approximately *14 ppm (parts per million)

*A less common unit, but used occasionally

You might also like