A process for treating a feedwater in a variable volume reverse osmosis system that includes an RO unit that produces a permeate and a concentrate, and minimizing or reducing scaling of the RO unit by varying the volume of concentrate cycled through the RO system based on a recovery level of the RO unit, the process comprising: a. in a first mode of operation: i. pressurizing the feedwater and directing the feedwater through the RO unit to yield the permeate and the concentrate; ii. directing the concentrate from the RO unit to a concentrate receiving unit forming a part of the RO system; iii. operating the RO unit at a first recovery level; iv. while operating the RO unit at the first recovery level, cycling a first volume of concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit to and through the RO unit; v. after operating the RO system at the first recovery level, operating the RO unit at a second recovery level that is higher than said first recovery level; vi. while operating the RO unit at the second recovery level, cycling a second volume of concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit to and through the RO unit, the second volume of concentrate being less than the first volume of concentrate; vii. wherein by reducing the volume of concentrate cycled through the RO unit at the second recovery level, concentrate cycle time through the RO unit is reduced, which in turn reduces or minimizes scaling of the RO unit; viii. while cycling the first and second volumes of concentrate through the RO unit, combining the feedwater with the first or second volume of concentrate such that the concentrate and feedwater are directed through the RO unit; and b. in a second mode of operation: i. after operating the RO system at said first and second recovery levels, removing at least a portion of the concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit while still directing pressurized feedwater through the RO unit and directing concentrate from the RO unit to the concentrate receiving unit. a. in a first mode of operation: i. pressurizing the feedwater and directing the feedwater through the RO unit to yield the permeate and the concentrate; ii. directing the concentrate from the RO unit to a concentrate receiving unit forming a part of the RO system; iii. operating the RO unit at a first recovery level; iv. while operating the RO unit at the first recovery level, cycling a first volume of concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit to and through the RO unit; v. after operating the RO system at the first recovery level, operating the RO unit at a second recovery level that is higher than said first recovery level; vi. while operating the RO unit at the second recovery level, cycling a second volume of concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit to and through the RO unit, the second volume of concentrate being less than the first volume of concentrate; vii. wherein by reducing the volume of concentrate cycled through the RO unit at the second recovery level, concentrate cycle time through the RO unit is reduced, which in turn reduces or minimizes scaling of the RO unit; viii. while cycling the first and second volumes of concentrate through the RO unit, combining the feedwater with the first or second volume of concentrate such that the concentrate and feedwater are directed through the RO unit; and i. pressurizing the feedwater and directing the feedwater through the RO unit to yield the permeate and the concentrate; ii. directing the concentrate from the RO unit to a concentrate receiving unit forming a part of the RO system; iii. operating the RO unit at a first recovery level; iv. while operating the RO unit at the first recovery level, cycling a first volume of concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit to and through the RO unit; v. after operating the RO system at the first recovery level, operating the RO unit at a second recovery level that is higher than said first recovery level; vi. while operating the RO unit at the second recovery level, cycling a second volume of concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit to and through the RO unit, the second volume of concentrate being less than the first volume of concentrate; vii. wherein by reducing the volume of concentrate cycled through the RO unit at the second recovery level, concentrate cycle time through the RO unit is reduced, which in turn reduces or minimizes scaling of the RO unit; viii. while cycling the first and second volumes of concentrate through the RO unit, combining the feedwater with the first or second volume of concentrate such that the concentrate and feedwater are directed through the RO unit; and b. in a second mode of operation: i. after operating the RO system at said first and second recovery levels, removing at least a portion of the concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit while still directing pressurized feedwater through the RO unit and directing concentrate from the RO unit to the concentrate receiving unit. i. after operating the RO system at said first and second recovery levels, removing at least a portion of the concentrate from the concentrate receiving unit while still directing pressurized feedwater through the RO unit and directing concentrate from the RO unit to the concentrate receiving unit.