In recent years, membrane ultrafiltration (UF) of surface water for drinking water treatment has become a more attractive technology worldwide as a possible alternative treatment to conventional clarification. To evaluate the performance of ultrafiltration membranes for treatment of surface water in North China, a 48-m2 low pressure hollow fiber membrane ultrafiltration pilot plant was constructed. Ultrafiltration was operated in cross-flow and with powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption. Turbidity was almost completely removed to less than 0.2 NTU (below Chinese standard 1 NTU). It was found that PAC addition enhanced organic matter removal. The combined process of PAC/UF allowed to 41% removal of CODMn 46% removal of DOC and 57% decrease in UV254 absorbance. The elimination of particles, from average 12000/ml in the raw water to approximately 15/ml in the permeated, was observed. When PAC concentration was below 30 mg/L, backwashing could recovery the membrane flux with backwash interval/backwashing duration of 1/30. In recent years, membrane ultrafiltration (UF) of surface water for drinking water treatment has become a more attractive technology worldwide as a possible alternative treatment to conventional clarification. To evaluate the performance of ultrafiltration membranes for treatment of surface water in North China, a 48 -m2 low pressure hollow fiber membrane ultrafiltration pilot plant was constructed. Ultrafiltration was operated in cross-flow and with powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption. Turbidity was almost completely removed to less than 0.2 NTU found that PAC addition enhanced organic matter removal. The combined process of PAC / UF allowed to 41% removal of CODMn 46% removal of DOC and 57% decrease in UV254 absorbance. The elimination of particles, from average 12000 / ml in the raw water when about 15 / ml in the permeated, was observed. When PAC concentration was below 30 mg / L, backwashing could recovery the membrane flux with backwash interval / backwashing duration of 1/30.