Cellulose filters were dipped and padded with m-aramid dissolved in N,N-dimethylacetamide followed by coagulation in distilled water. The coated filters were then chlorinated in a hypochlorite solution. The liquid permeability of the m-aramid-coated cellulose filters was examined. The resulting chlorinated and unchlorinated filters were assessed for their ability to disinfect contaminated water. The chlorinated m-aramid-coated cellulose filter produced 5 log reductions of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which was much higher than that observed on the unchlorinated m-aramid-coated cellulose filter. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013