When is it appropriate to use turbidity instead of a particle counter?

Using turbidity as a measurement is particularly appropriate in high turbidity waters because turbidity is specifically designed to assess the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by a large number of individual particles that are generally too small to be seen without magnification. When waters are high in turbidity, such as during heavy rainfall or runoff events, the concentration of suspended solids increases, making it difficult for particle counters to provide accurate readings. Particle counters are more effective in clear waters where individual particles can be accurately quantified.

In high turbidity conditions, turbidity meters provide a more useful assessment of water quality, indicating the level of suspended particulate matter, which can be critical for regulatory compliance and treatment processes. Therefore, turbidity is the preferred method for evaluating water in these scenarios, as it directly correlates with the water's clarity and overall quality.