Desalination & Membrane Water Treatment Equipment worked example

Brine Disposal Cost at 92% disposal scope included: a worked example

Push disposal scope included up to 92% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when brine disposal cost in desalination and membrane water treatment equipment is being put through a desalination and membrane water treatment equipment weighted-cost review.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Brine or concentrate volume: 100 m³ (unchanged)
  • Disposal cost per brine volume: 45 $ / m³ (unchanged)
  • Disposal scope included: 92 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 80)
  • Fixed disposal or permit cost: 250 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Included variable brine disposal cost = brine or concentrate volume × disposal cost per brine volume × disposal scope included) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4,390 $ for total brine disposal cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 43.9 $ / piece for brine disposal cost per m³.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4,140 $ for included variable brine disposal cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 250 $ for fixed disposal or permit cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where disposal scope included sits at 80% and the headline result is 3,850 $, this scenario comes in 14.03% above the baseline at 4,390 $.
  • It computes total brine disposal cost by combining a volume-based variable cost (scaled by the share of brine actually disposed of) with a fixed permit or standing cost. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Total brine disposal cost: 4,390 $ (headline result)
  • Brine disposal cost per m³: 43.9 $ / piece
  • Included variable brine disposal cost: 4,140 $
  • Fixed disposal or permit cost: 250 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Brine Disposal Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.