This article examines two diverse industrial applications of reverse osmosis (RO). In the first example, RO is utilized in the production of ultrapure deionized water at a semiconductor manufacturing facility. Design of the facility's original deionized water treatment system and the expansion of the RO system are described. In the second example, RO systems for industrial waste recycling at a defense manufacturing facility is discussed. Design of new metals removal pretreatment facilities, new demineralization facilities, and brine recovery facilities is addressed. The article emphasizes that design of RO systems must include a thorough evaluation of each unit process to determine the effect on preceding and succeeding units. Includes 7 references, figures.