This paper investigates the reduction of ionic concentration and carbon oxygen demand (COD) in dairy process waters modelled by one volume of skim milk diluted with two volumes of water using shear-enhanced reverse osmosis. Initial COD and conductivity were, respectively, 36,000mgO 2 L −1 and 2000μScm −1 . We have compared the performances of a VSEP vibratory pilot and of a single rotating disk-stationary membrane module equipped with the same Desal AG membrane (Osmonics). Membrane shear rates were varied by changing the vibration frequency in the VSEP and the disk rotation speed or adding radial vanes in the other module. In all tests the permeate COD was reduced below 15mgO 2 L −1 . Permeate fluxes reached a maximum of 180Lh −1 m −2 at a transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 4MPa at initial concentration with the VSEP at its resonant frequency and with the disk equipped with 6mm high vanes rotating at 2000rpm. Permeate conductivity fell from 60μScm −1 at 1MPa to about 18μScm −1 at 4MPa. In concentration tests, corresponding permeate fluxes at the maximum volume reduction ratio reached (VRR=8), were 55Lh −1 m −2 for the VSEP and 60Lh −1 m −2 for the rotating disk at a TMP of 4MPa. Permeate conductivities increased exponentially with VRR from 18 to 210μScm −1 for the rotating disk and to 250μScm −1 for the VSEP. However the mean conductivity of collected permeate varied from 38μScm −1 at highest shear rate to 60 at lower shear rates. This study shows that these filtration systems permit to obtain reusable water from this high initial COD model effluent with one single reverse osmosis step.