A life cycle costing model for small reverse osmosis water treatment facilities

Abstract

This study endeavors to determine and quantify the factors that make up life cycle cost for small reverse osmosis water treatment facilities which use brackish water as raw water supply. A total of six water treatment facilities were chosen from Al-Hasa Oasis as a case study. The cost factors affecting water treatment facilities throughout their life cycles were determined from three sources; literature search, gathering historical cost data of commissioned water treatment facilities, and collecting information from equipment suppliers. This study has considered and evaluated the following variables: design capacity, facility size, equipment, raw water impurities and quality of produced water. The design capacities of the surveyed facilities ranged between 60 and 100 cubic meters per day. The collected parameters were used to develop a model that incorporates all life cycle components. The model developed can provide investors with information about potential profitability or loss since it incorporates all life cycle parameters that including invested money, operating cost, maintenance cost, overhead cost, sales cost, and salvage value at end of project life. Therefore, depending on the accuracy and reliability of the information supplied, an investor could reach a firm and precise decision with little difficulty before proceeding into such a business. The model was written in a table format utilizing features of Microsoft Excel worksheet and its visual basic applications. The displays allow the user to enter new data and/or displays cost summary. The model is entirely menu driven, and data entry, initialization of calculations and generation of reports are prompted by model application features in order to arrive at a final cost report. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)