Total suspended solids (TSS) are defined as what?

• A. Total suspended solids: solids in wastewater that can be removed readily by standard filtering procedures in a laboratory and reported as milligrams per liter (mg/L).
• B. Total dissolved solids: solids dissolved in wastewater measured as mg/L.
• C. Total suspended solids: solids that settle to the bottom in detention.
• D. Total suspended solids: solids that cannot be filtered.

Answer: (A)

Total suspended solids are the solids in wastewater that remain on a filter and can be removed by standard laboratory filtration. This definition distinguishes them from dissolved solids, which pass through the filter, and from solids that simply settle out or cannot be filtered. The amount is reported as a concentration, typically milligrams per liter, determined by filtering a known volume, drying the residue, and weighing it.