Reverse osmosis applications in Saudi Arabia

Rapid development during the past two decades has dramatically increased water demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a country with limited potable water supplies. To meet this increased demand, both the government and private sectors have invested heavily in developing new and alternative sources of supply as well as forms of treatment. This article examines two processes - desalination of seawater and brackish water and reclamation of domestic wastewater - that are used extensively in Saudi Arabia to stretch its less-than-optimal supplies. Some of the major reverse osmosis installations are described, in terms of source- and product-water characteristics, plant performance, and cost