佛罗里达州的供水商几十年来一直在使用膜处理技术。第一批膜系统被单独用于淡化有限数量的海水；成本高，技术相对不完善。沿海地区的快速发展，以及其丰富的微咸水供应，导致许多大型供水商转向膜系统以满足日益增长的需求。膜技术的进步、其生产高品质水的能力以及模块化可扩展性提供的灵活性提高了反渗透和电渗析作为处理选项的成本效益。 目前，佛罗里达州近100个供水系统正在使用膜法生产近50 mgd的水，现有计划要求总生产能力达到三倍以上。考虑到1986个安全饮用水法案修正案带来的水质问题的变化，该国的许多其他地区也将不得不考虑使用膜技术。包括13个参考文献和表格。

Florida water suppliers have been using membrane treatment technology for decades. The first membrane systems were used in isolated instances for desalinating limited amounts of seawater; costs were high and the technology was relatively unperfected. Rapid development of coastal areas, with their abundant supplies of brackish water, has led many larger water suppliers to turn to membrane systems to meet increasing demand. Advances in membrane technology, its ability to produce high-quality water, and the flexibility offered by modular expandability have enhanced the cost-effectiveness of reverse osmosis and electrodialysis as treatment options. Almost 100 Florida water systems are now using membrane processes to produce a total of nearly 50 mgd, and existing plans call for total production capacity to more than triple. Considering the changes in water quality concerns brought about by the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments, many other areas of the country will also have to consider the use of membrane technology. Includes 13 references, tables.