The use of biological-activated carbon (BAC) processes in water treatment involves biofiltration, which maximizes the bacteria’s capabilities to remove organic matter. In this study, the distribution of the bacterial community was assessed in response to different types of BAC processes applied downstream in the Nakdong River. The bacterial biomass and activity were 1.20~34.0×107 CFU/g and 0.61~1.10 mg-C/m3ㆍhr in coal-based BAC, respectively. The attachment of the bacterial biomass and the removal efficiency of the organic carbon were greatest with the coal-based activated carbon. The bacteria attached to each activated carbon material were detected in the order of Pseudomonas genus, Chryseomonas genus, Flavobacterium genus, Alcaligenes genus, Acinetobacter genus, and Spingomona genus. Pseudomonas cepacia was the dominant species in the coal-based materials, and Chryseomonas luteola was the dominant species in the wood-based material.