Membrane　biofouling　is　a　challenge　for　biocarriers　facilitated　gravity-driven　membrane　(GDM)　systems　to　achieve　high-efficiency　filtration　in　decentralized　drinking　water　treatment.　The　purpose　of　this　study　was　to　investigate　the　effects　of　vacuum　ultraviolet　(VUV)　as　a　pretreatment　on　membrane　fouling,　permeate　water　quality　and　bacterial　communities.　VUV　pretreatment　was　found　to　significantly　reduce　the　cake　layer　resistance　by　24.4%　and　the　membrane　pore　resistance　by　40.0%　(p　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.