Waste from reverse osmosis systems is classified under which wastewater stream?

Waste from reverse osmosis systems is classified under demineralizer waste because both processes are designed to remove impurities and dissolved solids from water. Reverse osmosis (RO) involves passing water through a semi-permeable membrane, which effectively separates and concentrates contaminants in the wastewater stream. Similarly, demineralization refers to the process of removing mineral ions through ion exchange or other technologies.

When reverse osmosis operates, the permeate (the treated, purified water) is collected separately, while the concentrated waste, known as brine, is the byproduct that contains the removed contaminants. This waste is comparable to the waste produced by demineralization systems, which typically have similar composition due to the removal of dissolved solids.

The other options are distinct types of wastewater streams with different characteristics and are produced from different systems. Cooling tower blowdown involves the management of water used in cooling processes, floor drain waste typically involves miscellaneous contaminants from various sources, and boiler blowdown is the discharge of water from a boiler to control the concentration of non-condensable gases and dissolved minerals. Therefore, the classification of RO waste aligns with demineralizer waste since both processes focus on the removal of impurities from water.