Cost Comparison of Membrane Treatment and Concentrate Management Practices at Drinking Water Treatment Plants in Florida

摘要

Design improvements, operational simplicity, advancements in new membranematerials, and competition in membrane industry have reduced both capital and operatingcosts of nano filtration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) systems for drinking watertreatment applications. In Florida, the use of membrane technologies has increased toabout 200 MGD today in comparison to 60 MGD in 1994. Currently, there are 125membrane treatment systems in Florida with design capacities ranging from 800 gallonsper day (gpd) to 25 MGD. A survey of economics of membrane treatment (NF and RO)facilities for drinking water treatment and concentrate management options wereconducted for facilities located in Florida. Cost comparisons were based on data fromdifferent planning documents and plant surveys (Bergman, 1995; LEC, 2000; and budgetdata provided by the facilities). Since the capital costs depend on land cost, loan interests,consulting fees, design cost, pilot tests, costs of permits and other site specific factors; foraccuracy of comparison, only the construction costs were considered for capital costs.