Techno-economic and environmental analysis of sustainable drinking water supply methods in deprived areas (case study of Sistan and Baluchestan)

Increasing the level of comfort and development and locating in an dry and desert areas has led to decrease in renewable sources of drinking water in eastern Iran Specially in Sistan and Balochestan. Access to drinking water in this area is difficult and its price is high (4 US$ per cubic meter). In this article, two scenarios have been investigated in order to supply sustainable drinking water. (1) Usage of available brackish water resources through brackish water Reverse Osmosis desalination system and (2) Usage of Oman Sea water resources through Sea water Reverse Osmosis desalination system and fresh water transfer by pipeline. Results show that the average prime cost of drinking water is (0.94 US$) and (2.58 US$) per cubic meter in the first and second scenarios, respectively. Also, the average period of return in the first scenario is (3.3 Year) and in the second scenario is (9.59 Year). More investigations show that the sea water desalination units construction and pipeline transmission is economicaly feasible up to 300 Km from the coastline.