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Financial, Economic, and Environmental Analyses of Upgrading Reverse Osmosis Plant Fed with Treated Wastewater

Author

Listed:
  • Foroogh Nazari Chamaki

    (Department of Banking and Finance, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta 99628, North Cyprus, Turkey)

  • Glenn P. Jenkins

    (Department of Economics, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
    Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Cyprus International University, Nicosia 99258, North Cyprus, Turkey
    Cambridge Resources International Inc., Cambridge, MA 02140, USA)

  • Majid Hashemipour

    (Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus International University, Nicosia 99258, North Cyprus, Turkey)

Abstract

One of the most effective strategies to mitigate water shortages worldwide is to reuse treated wastewater for freshwater production employing reverse osmosis (RO) technology. This strategy is appropriate in urban areas of arid or semi-arid regions as it can provide a sustainable and reliable water source close to the consumers. One of the drawbacks of RO is the high variability of production costs due to the electricity intensity. In addition, depending on the electricity source, it can also result in substantial environmental costs. This study showed that upgrading pumping and RO membrane systems of a wastewater reuse plant in Cyprus can significantly alleviate these drawbacks in terms cost, water recovery rate, and air pollution. The water-recovery rate of the upgraded RO plant increased from 43.2 to 75 percent, which resulted in a substantial net financial benefit due to the reduction in the quantity of wastewater purchased and the increase in potable water produced. The upgraded system also reduced the electricity requirement from 3.63 kWh/m 3 to 1.92 kWh/m 3 . Pollution emissions decreased substantially because of the reduction in electricity requirements. The beneficiaries of these lower emission costs are the residents of Cyprus and global society. Overall, the benefit of upgrading the plant is highly attractive with more than 65 percent annual real internal rates of return in financial and economic terms. Positive net present values are realized for all the scenarios considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Foroogh Nazari Chamaki & Glenn P. Jenkins & Majid Hashemipour, 2023. "Financial, Economic, and Environmental Analyses of Upgrading Reverse Osmosis Plant Fed with Treated Wastewater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:7:p:3292-:d:1117614
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Foroogh Nazari Chamaki & Hatice Jenkins & Majid Hashemipour & Glenn P. Jenkins, 2022. "Wastewater Reuse to Mitigate the Risk of Water Shortages: An Integrated Investment Appraisal," Development Discussion Papers 2022-15, JDI Executive Programs.
    2. Kim, Jungbin & Park, Kiho & Yang, Dae Ryook & Hong, Seungkwan, 2019. "A comprehensive review of energy consumption of seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    3. Jenkins, G.P., 1998. "Evaluation of Stakeholder Impacts in Cost-Benefit Analysis," Papers 631, Harvard - Institute for International Development.
    4. Athar Kamal & Sami G. Al-Ghamdi & Muammer Koç, 2021. "Assessing the Impact of Water Efficiency Policies on Qatar’s Electricity and Water Sectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-30, July.
    5. Zhuo Wang & Yanjie Zhang & Tao Wang & Bo Zhang & Hongwen Ma, 2021. "Design and Energy Consumption Analysis of Small Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination Equipment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    circular economy; reused wastewater; reverse osmosis; levelized cost; economic cost; membrane technologies; emission cost; environmental externalities; distributive analysis; energy saving;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • L95 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Gas Utilities; Pipelines; Water Utilities
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water

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