Ceramic Membrane Filtration in Drinking Water: Bridging Performance Promise with Emerging Operational Risk and Market Maturity

Ceramic membrane filtration is gaining traction in drinking water treatment due to its potential for superior integrity, chemical resistance, and extended service life relative to polymeric systems. However, adoption in the United States remains limited, with fewer than 30 installations and a lack of long-term performance data. This paper evaluated the current state of ceramic membrane technology, including materials, configurations, global deployment, and operational experience. Key knowledge gaps are identified in areas such as failure mechanisms, integrity monitoring, and lifecycle expectations, particulatrly given the brittle nature of ceramic materials and their potential for sudden, catastrophic failure.