A typical example of surface water treatment using ultrafiltration for industrial water and household water production, so called Bqua, is described in this article. This project is funded by the European Commission and shows the use of membrane technology in the city of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Besides this specific example an overview of research activities for surface water treatment in the Netherlands using micro- and ultrafiltration is presented. Combining the results of membrane performances at various locations a dependency of net membrane flux on water quality or extent of pretreatment is determined. A range of net flux for each type of surface water, i.e. non-pretreated, restrictedly pretreated or extendedly pretreated, is given quantitatively. This net flux range appears to be more or less independent on location and membrane type. Further research is carried out at this moment to optimize a cost model of micro- and ultrafiltration that is sensitive for variations in flux and includes costs of pretreatment. Includes 4 references, tables, figures.