In this paper, a new tool requiring only flow control as operation was developed in order to assess
on-line the ability of a given water to generate membrane biofouling; its use as an alternative to
the autopsy was also evaluated. Nanofiltration membrane coupons were colonized in incubation devices adapted from those
used to study biofilm in drinking water networks (Servais et al., 2004). These incubation
devices are PVC cylinder-shape reactors that were fitted with 6 circular supports; those supports
exposed at their surface the nanofiltration membrane disc or "coupon" covered with a grid-spacer,
which is of importance in spiral wound module fouling phenomena. The reactor was fed a
continuous flow of water to be tested (same waters as those feeding nanofiltration modules), thus
allowing the membrane coupons to become colonized at the contact of the water flowing tangentially to
its surface at a constant velocity of 4 cm/s. After colonization in the reactor, bacterial biomass was
estimated on the material fixed or adsorbed on the membrane coupons. Sampling strategy, follow-up of the pilot units, biofilm characterization, and testing conditions are presented. Includes 10 references, tables, figures.