What is the primary method used to determine total suspended solids in wastewater?

Filtration is the primary method used to determine total suspended solids (TSS) in wastewater because it effectively separates solid particles from the liquid phase, allowing for accurate measurement of the solids present. In this process, a known volume of wastewater is passed through a filter that retains suspended solids while allowing the liquid to flow through. Once the filtration is complete, the solids collected on the filter are dried and weighed. The weight of these solids, when compared to the volume of wastewater sampled, provides a quantitative measure of TSS.

This method is widely accepted in the field of water quality analysis due to its reliability and precision. While evaporation is a method that can be used to measure total solids, it is not the standard procedure for TSS, as it would include both suspended and dissolved solids, thus not isolating the suspended component effectively. Ultrafiltration involves much smaller pore sizes and is used for specific applications, often focused on separating smaller molecules or colloids rather than measuring TSS. Infiltration refers to the process of water entering the soil or ground and does not pertain to the measurement of solids in wastewater.