How much does desalination cost?
It depends on the source water. Desalination of brackish water usually costs less than that of seawater because brackish water is generally cleaner and contains less total dissolved salts (see Question 2, above). For example, a 25-MGD (million gallons per day) brackish water desalination plant can cost about $40 to $50 million to build, whereas a 25-MGD seawater desalination plant can cost about $100 million or more. The cost also depends on the amount of pre-treatment and post-treatment needed.
It depends on the quality of the source water and a host of other factors. Desalination of brackish water usually costs less than that of seawater because brackish water is generally cleaner and contains less total dissolved salts (see Question 2, above). For example, a 25-MGD (million gallons per day) brackish water desalination plant can cost about $40 to $50 million to build, whereas a 25-MGD seawater desalination plant can cost about $100 million or more. The cost also depends on the amount of pre-treatment and post-treatment needed.
