Control of Microorganisms in Drinking Water by Pressure-Driven Membrane Processes

Membrane technologies are playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of water sources used for drinking purposes. Decreases in adequate water resources, an emphasis on water reuse and an increased sensitivity to less operator intensive water treatment processes have also contributed to increased membrane use. Additionally, there have been substantial decreases in membrane costs due to technological advancements, thus promoting their use as alternatives to long established conventional water treatment methods. Because of the resistance of some microorganisms to traditional disinfectants, membranes are now being employed for primary disinfection. The objective of this extended abstract is to provide an overview on the use pressure-driven membrane technology for microbial control in drinking water supplies.