The Quality of Raw and Treated Water of Desalination Plants by Reverse Osmosis in Qeshm

Desalination plants have an important role in providing community drinking water. The increasing trend of water consumption and decrease of natural resources of fresh water make this role even more important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of inlet and outlet water of desalination plants by reverse osmosis (RO) process in Qeshm، Iran and also to compare the quality of outlet water from this process with National and International standards of drinking water. This study was performed by obtaining samples of inlet and outlet water of desalination plants working by reverse osmosis (RO) process in Qeshm for 7 months. Total hardness، electrical conductivity (EC)، total dissolved solids (TDS)، turbidity، temperature، pH، fluoride، nitrate، nitrite، chloride، sulfate and microbiological parameters were investigated. Data analysis was performed by SPSS16. Total hardness and fluoride in the treated water from this process were lower than desirable limits and chloride concentration was higher than the permitted limit. The rest of the chemical and physical parameters were in acceptable range. Most qualitative parameters of the outlet water of the RO process decreased by 99% compared to the inlet water and outlet levels were in the standard range. Desalination plants by reverse osmosis (RO) process have a high efficiency in providing healthy drinking water based on qualitative standards.