Which parameter measures the cloudiness of water due to suspended solids?

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Suspended solids cause water to look cloudy, and turbidity directly measures that cloudiness by assessing how much the particles in a sample scatter light. The more scattering, the higher the turbidity, which reflects a greater concentration of suspended solids. This is why turbidity is the go-to parameter for describing cloudiness. Color, odor, and taste relate to different water qualities—color from dissolved or very fine substances, odor from volatile compounds, and taste from dissolved substances—not the light-scattering effect that produces cloudiness. Turbidity is typically measured with a nephelometer and reported in NTU, helping operators judge filtration effectiveness and potential disinfection impact since higher turbidity can indicate more solids and potential interference with treatment.