The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the contribution of the electrostatic and molecula structural properties of an active layer of the thin film compsite (TFC) membranes to fouling tendency. The studies of surface morphology and surface charge were very effective in understanding fouling behaviors of the reverse osmosis (RO) membranes which were the thin film composite type of ployamide. Results of microscopic morphology analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface charge analyzed by electrokinetic analyzer (EKA) showed important factors affecting the fouling of RO membranes. The active layer of the composite membrane possessing realtively neutral streaming charge and less roughness provided a RO membrane with slowly decreasing flux.