The increasing demand for potable water is never-ending. Freshwater resources are scarce and stress is accumulating on other alternatives. Therefore, new technologies and novel optimization methods are developed for the existing processes. Membrane-based processes are among the most efficient methods for water treatment. Yet, membranes suffer from severe operational problems, namely fouling and temperature polarization. These effects can harm the membrane’s permeability, permeate recovery, and lifetime. To mitigate such effects, membranes can be treated through two techniques: plasma treatment (a surface modification technique), and treatment through the use of plasmonic materials (surface and bulk modification). This article showcases plasma- and plasmonic-based treatments in the context of water desalination/purification. It aims to offer a comprehensive review of the current developments in membrane-based water treatment technologies along with suggested directions to enhance its overall efficiency through careful selection of material and system design. Moreover, basic guidelines and strategies are outlined on the different membrane modification techniques to evaluate its prerequisites. Besides, we discuss the challenges and future developments about these membrane modification methods.