Which of the following desalination plants will always require a sterilizer when providing water to a potable water system?

Correct Answer: Option A — Reverse osmosis type unit

Reverse osmosis units operate at ambient temperatures, which do not provide the thermal sterilization inherent in distillation processes. Because bacteria can proliferate on membrane surfaces, 46 CFR and public health standards mandate that water produced by RO systems must be sterilized, typically via UV light or chlorination, before consumption.