What does TSS stand for?

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is a crucial term in water quality management and environmental monitoring. It refers to the solids in a liquid that are not dissolved and are usually small enough to remain suspended in the water column. TSS measurement is significant because it can indicate the level of pollutants, sediment, and other particulate matter in water bodies, which can adversely affect aquatic life and drinking water quality.

Monitoring TSS is essential for wastewater treatment processes, as excessive suspended solids can impair treatment efficiency and lead to environmental harm when treated effluent is discharged. Thus, understanding TSS is vital for anyone involved in environmental science, waste management, or related fields.

The other choices do not accurately describe this measure: "Total Solid Sources" and "Total Secondary Solids" are not established terms in water quality monitoring, and "Total Saturated Solids" does not pertain to the standard measurement of suspended particles in water.