The impact of R&D on new technologies, novel design concepts and advanced operating procedures on the cost of water desalination

In the early 1970s, Mekorot was among the first to investigate and actually implement the RO process as an alternative to the much higher energy-inten sive and more expensive thermal processes. Mekorot, assisted by Israeli uni versities and in cooperation with leading membrane manufacturers and other equipment suppliers, made extensive research efforts to stretch, as far as possible, existing and developing RO technologies to improve performance re garding reliability and cost. This was accomplished by comprehensive pilot testing of all major RO membranes and appropriate antiscalants. More recent ly, new developments such as integrated membrane systems (IMS) have been in vestigated in the framework of international research projects supported by the EU and MEDRC. In this paper the economic impact of R&D and ongoing res earch activities are discussed.