End-of-life reverse osmosis membranes could be now recycled (UFr) by a low-cost oxidative treatment producing a membrane with properties similar to ultrafiltration. Its efficiency for arsenic, iron and manganese removal from contaminated surface water was compared to submerged (UFs) and pressurized (UFp) ultrafiltration modules as strategies for a safe drinking water supply. The processes were preceded by a pre-oxidation stage, assessing their permeate flux and fouling under high turbidity conditions (100–1000 NTU). The pre-oxidation was effective in converting soluble species into colloids and complexes that were latter removed by UF units even under high turbidity conditions (1000 NTU). From all filtration units, the UFr was capable to retain even the complexes formed with manganese, being the only system capable to attain the threshold values for all three contaminants. The highest permeate flux of UFp came along with the highest flux decay among all three configurations. Despite the lower permeate flux (71.8–65.2 L/m²h, for 100 and 1000 NTU, respectively) and shorter membrane lifespan for UFr, the process still presented the lowest operating cost (US$/m³ 0.310) and highest rate of return compared to the other configurations (UFs: US$/m³ 0.337 and UFp: US$/m³: 0.328). The advantages of UFr could be extended to environmental aspects as diminishes the disposal of end-of-life membranes in landfills whilst attaining the technical and economical pre-requisites for novel technologies being sought for a safe drinking water supply.