CEN/TS 17685-5:2026

Earthworks - Chemical tests - Part 5: Determination of water-soluble salts content in soils by gravimetric method

Publication date:   Aug 6, 2026

Scope

The purpose of this document is to describe a gravimetric method for the determination of the water-soluble salt content (WSS) in soils. These salts typically comprise inorganic ions such as sulphates, chlorides, nitrites, nitrates, bicarbonates, sodium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, and strontium. The method involves initial dissolution in demineralised water and subsequent determination of the mass of the residue obtained by evaporation.
The results obtained in accordance with this document do not represent the total salt content of the soil, but exclusively the fraction soluble in water under the specific conditions defined in this document. These results are not comparable with those obtained by TS 17685 4:2026, relative to the determination of water-soluble sulphate content in soils.