Reverse Osmosis and Other Treatment Technologies - Global Drinking Water Management and Conservation - page 66

Fig. 4.12 Reverse osmosis economies of scale for brackish and seawater

In Fig. 4.12 , seawater desalination ATC are represented by black inscription and
brackish water desalination ATC by blue inscription. This figure clearly shows that

in the case of both brackish and seawater desalination, an increase in treatment
capacity results in a per unit decrease in cost.

Fig. 4.13 Real desalination costs over time (US Congress, Of ce of Technology Assessment
1988 )