DESALTING SEAWATER AND BRACKISH WATER: A COST UPDATE.

Cost estimates are given for desalting seawater by distillation and reverse osmosis, and for desalting brackish water by reverse osmosis and electrodialysis. Included are the cost of generating steam and electrical energY on site using coal-fired boilers as well as oil-fired boilers, and dual purpose nuclear/electric seawater distillation plants. The energy costs for both reverse osmosis and electrodialysis are based upon the availability of electricity at a fixed rate. Cost data were computed as a function of plant size, and include both capital costs and construction costs which are considered as typical. These assumptions are used to develop the reference cases of total water cost.