In Australia we have three reverse osmosis plants, two more are being built with two more proposed. Where tests have been made available (from plants on the Gold Coast and at Kurnell in Sydney), the results show the average boron content of reverse osmosis desalinated water was about 0.5 mg/L and the level rose higher as the filters aged.
According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, none of these plants is capable of producing desalinated water with less than 0.2 mg/L of boron – the level recognised under the formula as safe for all human drinkers.
The author calls on the government to renegotiate the contract to have the desalination plant process effluent from the Carrum treatment works, because, unlike sea water, the effluent does not contain boron.
Desalinated Carrum water could supply all the extra drinking water Melbourne needs, at a fraction of the cost of desalinating sea water.
[Read the full article at The Sydney Morning Herald.]