TSS & Turbidity Test

Overview

TSS and turbidity answer related but distinct questions. TSS is gravimetric: the sample is filtered and the residue weighed, giving the actual mass of material suspended in the water. Turbidity is optical: it measures how much light the water scatters, which is what the eye perceives as cloudiness. Measuring both gives you the load and its ecological consequence. TSS by SM 2540 D, MDL 0.2 ppm and RL 0.2 ppm; turbidity by EPA 180.1 in NTU, MDL 0.11 and RL 1.

What problem does this solve for our lake?

The two measurements diverge in ways that are diagnostic, which is the reason to run them together rather than separately. • TSS tells you the load — how much material, by weight, is present. This is the number for sediment budgets, erosion assessment, and evaluating whether a shoreline stabilization project worked. • Turbidity tells you the effect — how much that material interferes with light. Light penetration is what determines how deep aquatic plants can grow, how much of the water column supports photosynthesis, and how well sight-feeding fish can hunt. Where they diverge is informative. Fine clay particles produce very high turbidity at low mass, because small particles scatter light efficiently. Coarse sand produces high TSS at low turbidity. Algae produce both, but with a characteristic relationship that differs from mineral sediment. A lab report showing high turbidity with modest TSS points toward fine colloidal clay, often from a specific eroding source, and that is a different problem with a different fix than bulk sediment delivery. Turbidity is also the parameter most state programs regulate and the one most likely to appear in a permit or a TMDL, which makes it the more useful number when you need to talk to an agency.

What's included?

• A complete TSS and Turbidity test kit shipped directly to you
• All materials required for clean, contamination-free sample collection
• Step-by-step collection and preservation instructions
• Prepaid 2-day return shipping to our certified partner laboratory
• Analysis by EPA-approved methods at an accredited partner laboratory, with full chain of custody
• Results loaded automatically into your lake's account

What's not included

• Sample collection. You collect the sample; we supply everything you need to do it correctly.
• Boat, dock, or shoreline access to your sampling site
• Depth-profile sampling. This is a single grab sample unless you order multiple kits.
• Ice or a cooler for shipping, which you supply
• Treatment, remediation, or applicator services
• A written management plan. The Boathouse can help you interpret results and decide next steps.
• Chlorophyll-a, which is what separates algal cloudiness from mineral cloudiness
• Secchi depth, a field measurement
• Particle size distribution or mineralogy

Requirements

• A well-mixed sample collected without disturbing bottom sediment
• Same-day shipment after collection, kept cold — turbidity changes as particles settle, so the sample should not sit
• For source work, multiple sites sampled the same day
• A Plus, Lake Admin, or PRO subscription to have results loaded into your Lake Pulse account
• Questions about site selection, timing, or which test fits your lake? Contact the Lake Pulse Boathouse before you order.