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Socio-Technical and Economic Analysis of Small Scale Reverse Osmosis Desalination in Coastal Bangladesh: Insights from Field Audits, Water Quality Assessment, and Behavioral Modeling

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  • Sowmik Das Sowmya

    (Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh)

  • Sonia Binte Murshed

    (Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh)

Abstract

Coastal Bangladesh faces severe drinking water scarcity due to salinity intrusion. To address this challenge, the study assesses the socio-technical and economic factors shaping the performance of small-scale reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants through field audits, household surveys, stakeholder interviews, and water quality analysis. Community acceptance was evaluated using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Feedwater was highly contaminated, with average TDS 3732.63 mg/L, hardness 636.36 mg/L, iron (Fe) 3.23 mg/L, and turbidity 14.63 NTU. Despite this, RO systems demonstrated strong performance, achieving removal efficiencies of 95.15% for salts, 95.95% for hardness, and 91.67% for alkalinity, with an average recovery rate of 37.25% (range: 20–60%). Treated water met WHO and Bangladesh standards, with mean concentrations of TDS (195.54 mg/L), Fe (0.21 mg/L), arsenic (0.0085 mg/L), and turbidity (1.09 NTU). However, inadequate operator training and a lack of maintenance threaten sustainability. Energy consumption increased by 0.1 kWh/m 3 per 1000 mg/L rise in salinity, while financial constraints hinder membrane replacement. TPB analysis revealed positive attitudes and perceived behavioral control as key adoption drivers. Untreated brine discharge (mean TDS 12,900 mg/L) posed significant environmental risks. This study provides micro-level insights to inform policy and strengthen the sustainability of decentralized RO systems in climate-vulnerable coastal regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Sowmik Das Sowmya & Sonia Binte Murshed, 2025. "Socio-Technical and Economic Analysis of Small Scale Reverse Osmosis Desalination in Coastal Bangladesh: Insights from Field Audits, Water Quality Assessment, and Behavioral Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:9335-:d:1775962
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Atallah, Mohamed Osman & Farahat, M.A. & Lotfy, Mohammed Elsayed & Senjyu, Tomonobu, 2020. "Operation of conventional and unconventional energy sources to drive a reverse osmosis desalination plant in Sinai Peninsula, Egypt," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 141-152.
    2. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    3. Mariana Villada-Canela, 2025. "Understanding Social Aspects on Desalination for Community Adaptation and Resilience in Baja California, México," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Zeyad A. Haidar & Mamdooh Al-Saud & Jamel Orfi & Hany Al-Ansary, 2021. "Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plants Energy Consumption Management and Optimization for Improving Power Systems Voltage Stability with PV Generation Resources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    5. William Black & Barry J. Babin, 2019. "Multivariate Data Analysis: Its Approach, Evolution, and Impact," Springer Books, in: Barry J. Babin & Marko Sarstedt (ed.), The Great Facilitator, pages 121-130, Springer.
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