Total suspended solids

Total suspended solids (TSS) are like tiny bits of dirt or debris that are floating in water. They are so small that they can't be seen with our eyes - kind of like how we can't see germs. When people talk about TSS, they are usually talking about how much of this 'dirt' is in the water.

Now imagine a glass of muddy water. If you let it sit for a while, the dirt will eventually sink to the bottom of the glass. This is kind of like what happens in bodies of water like ponds or lakes. The TSS eventually settles at the bottom. But in some cases, the TSS can float around in the water for a long time. This can be a problem because it can make the water look cloudy, make it harder for fish and other animals to breathe, and cause other environmental problems.

So scientists will measure TSS by taking a sample of the water and filtering it to remove all the solids. They then weigh the solids to get an idea of how much is floating around in the water. This helps them understand how healthy the water is and if there are any problems that need to be fixed.