Evaluating the Performance of Gravity-Driven Membrane Filtration for Waterborne Pathogen Removal and Public Health Protection

Waterborne pathogens pose a serious threat to public health, emphasizing the need for reliable and efficient water treatment technologies. Wastewater treatment plants employ a range of processes to reduce microbial contamination, with membrane filtration emerging as a promising solution due to its ability to physically remove pathogens without the production of harmful chemical by-products. This study investigates the effectiveness of a gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration system for pathogen removal from wastewater and evaluates the associated public health risks with and without treatment. A quantitative microbial risk assessment model was employed to estimate infection probabilities for various waterborne pathogens. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in pathogen concentrations following treatment, with up to a 10⁴-fold reduction in norovirus infection risk. Three critical factors influencing membrane performance were identified: membrane integrity, pore size characteristics, and membrane fouling. Maintaining membrane integrity was found to be essential for ensuring consistent pathogen removal. While nominal pore size is commonly used to predict rejection efficiency, the overall pore size distribution was found to have a greater influence on virus retention. Additionally, although membrane fouling is often considered detrimental, it was shown to enhance virus removal by up to two orders of magnitude. These findings underscore the potential of GDM systems for effective virus removal and highlight the importance of proper membrane design, maintenance, and monitoring in ensuring long-term operational efficiency and maximizing public health protection in wastewater treatment applications.