Reverse osmosis is more cost-effective than any other water treatment technology, the director of business development for Brazilian water treatment company Perenne, José Renato Santiago Jr, told BNamericas.
"You need to consider maintenance and upkeep when installing treatment systems. Reverse osmosis becomes more cost-effective after about two years," Santiago said.
At the same time, the cost of the initial installation is going down which makes the technology even more appealing.
Five years ago, installing a system was 30% more expensive than other treatment alternatives such as ion exchange, according to Santiago .
"Now, reverse osmosis is only 5-7% more expensive for initial equipment installation," he said, adding, "By 2012, it will be the cheapest alternative from day one."
However, many large water treatment firm still use other technologies. "The problem is that many people think in the short-term and only want to save money now," the executive said.
Santiago believes, however, that reverse osmosis will develop significantly in the next few years.
"I would say that the same amount of development that has taken place in the last ten years will take place in the next two or three years," he said.
Perenne is an engineering company that manufactures equipment and provides service for the treatment of water and sewage for industrial and domestic use.
