Fluid treatment elements substantially inhibit electrical charge imbalances and/or build-ups of electrical charges. A fluid treatment element may comprise a multilayer composite including an electrically conductive fibrous matrix, having an upstream side and a downstream side, disposed on a porous substrate, also having an upstream side and a downstream side, which supports the fibrous matrix. The fibrous matrix may include a combination of conductive and nonconductive fibers, wherein the conductive fibers include metal, carbon, or conductive polymer fibers and substantially inhibit an electrical charge and/or build-up of electrical charge. The conductive fibers of the electrically conductive fibrous matrix may comprise less than about 50% by weight of the conductive and nonconductive fibers and may have diameters in the range from about 1 .mu.m or less to about 10 .mu.m. The multilayer composite may also include a drainage layer positioned along one of the upstream side of the fibrous matrix and the downstream side of the porous substrate.