Most consumers are adept at reading nutrition labels, but when it comes to the water they drink daily, many are unaware of the key indicators that define its quality. NWB Finland Oy, the Finnish company behind AINA Natural Water, aims to change that by shedding light on Total Dissolved Solids, or TDS, a measurement that can offer valuable insights into the composition of drinking water.
TDS quantifies the concentration of dissolved substances in water, including naturally occurring minerals and salts such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates. The levels and ratios of these minerals can vary widely, influenced by the water's source and the geological layers it traverses.
"TDS gives consumers another way to understand the characteristics of the water they're drinking," said Marita Weiman, Quality Assurance Manager at NWB Finland Oy. "Water may look the same in a glass, but its mineral composition and taste profile can be very different depending on its source."
TDS is typically expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L). A higher TDS value indicates a greater presence of dissolved substances, while a lower value suggests fewer. However, TDS alone is not a measure of safety or healthfulness. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorizes TDS under its National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations, which address aesthetic qualities like taste, color, and odor rather than establishing health-based limits.
Taste is where TDS becomes particularly relevant for consumers. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that dissolved solids can affect the taste of drinking water, and the specific mineral composition can influence the overall drinking experience. "Consumers often describe water as soft, crisp, mineral, salty, or even metallic without necessarily knowing why," Weiman explained. "Mineral composition is one of the factors that can contribute to those differences. That's why we believe understanding TDS can help consumers become more informed about something they consume every day."
AINA Natural Water serves as an example of a naturally low-TDS water, containing approximately 32 mg/L. Sourced from the Pudasjärvi region of Northern Finland, the groundwater is naturally filtered through layers of soil, sand, and rock before being mechanically filtered and packaged. Its low mineral content contributes to a soft, neutral taste and a clean finish, which NWB Finland Oy considers central to the AINA experience. The company emphasizes that they do not add minerals or alter the water to achieve a specific profile; rather, they preserve the natural characteristics of the source.
"We want AINA to taste like what it is: natural water from Northern Finland," Weiman said. "The low TDS is not something we've engineered into the water. It's one of the measurable characteristics of the source."
For those interested in the specifics, AINA Natural Water's attributes include its origin in the Pudasjärvi region, natural filtration through soil and rock, a measured TDS of about 32 mg/L, a clean taste profile, naturally low sodium content, and sustainability-focused bag-in-box packaging that uses significantly less plastic than traditional bottles.
As NWB Finland Oy expands into the U.S. market, the company believes education is crucial in helping consumers look beyond packaging and marketing claims. "People are becoming much more interested in where their food and beverages come from and what they contain," Weiman added. "Water should be no different. Understanding measurements like TDS gives consumers one more piece of information they can use when comparing the choices available to them."
AINA Natural Water is preparing to become available to U.S. consumers through [OneLavi.com](https://onelavi.com) as NWB Finland Oy continues building its presence in the American market. For more information, visit [ainanaturalwater.fi](https://ainanaturalwater.fi) and [nwb.fi](https://nwb.fi).
