AWWA MTC61229

This paper describes how the capital costs for reverse osmosis (RO) systems can vary as much, or more than, three times and the operating costs as much as two times, dependent upon the site-specific factors. In order to quantify the cost effects of site-specific factors, the paper proposes a "reference design". Cost variation due to these factors can then be determined when compared with the costs for the reference case. The factors include: technical basis of source water quality, recovery factor, membrane operating pressure, electrical consumption, pretreatment and post-treatment requirements, raw water blending; components included in the costs; economic basis for capital and operating costs; cost changes due to site specific factors such as number of trains, energy, source water quality, blending of raw water; and, auxiliary equipment. Includes tables.