You're right. Therefore it is better to start firstly in the private sector because municpality in Spain blocks all this initiatives. Maybe in other cities it could be posible. I have to explore it.   Therefore, you suggest adding other types of filters such as cartridge softeners filled with ion exchange resin to remove calcium and magnesium. Also you suggest using small cartridge filters to remove fine particles found in water lines and a combination filter containing carbon to improve the taste. However my question is, why private sector still introduces RO to improve the taste of water if there are other options more efficient, less expensive and more sustainable?   Thank you,    Esther ROger estherrogerp@gmail.com

The biggest difference between municipal services and private industry is that government services are supposed to provide the largest benefit to the most people for the least cost (even it that isn't how it always works out), and private industry simply wants to make some minimal profit with their investment (and more profit is always welcome).

For example, a city might provide many "free" outlets of "potable" water on every major city street block.  The water is great for hydration, it won't promote or carry any diseases, it is readily available and at no cost (hidden in your taxes).  However, its temperature may vary and no one is too concerned about the taste (if any).

A private enterprise would want to recover all costs in delivering water to anyone AND make some profit.  So it not only needs to charge each user for the water, it needs to make the water MORE desirable than any other option in order to get people to pay for it.  That is where issues of "taste" (and some mineral content is really preferred) and texture (temperature or carbonation) come in.  Those of course may require additional equipment and maintenance expenditures which also need to be recovered and profited.

Now the private enterprise is free to experiment or study whether they can achieve their goal of a profitable water delivery service.  If they think that it will work, they risk their own money to achieve it.  If it doesn't look like a profitable venture, they will abandon it for something else.

WHAT technology or processes may be necessary, and what do they cost is where we get back to the basic question of what is the source (city water) and what is the desired final quality?  If RO provides the best projected return on investment, they will go for it.  Sometimes even that (the label) is valuable in marketing to obtain the desired price margin for profitability.

Best regards,

Steven

Published August 4, 2023 09:54 by Steven Cooke, President, Process Systems Consulting

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