Human enteric viruses and coliphages have been detected in water that
has undergone what is generally considered adequate treatment, includi
ng chlorination. Because small numbers of virus particles are needed f
or the initiation of a productive virus infection, the presence of any
number of virus particles in water resources will always be of concer
n. In this investigation the ability of oxidized coal to remove viruse
s from water was investigated. The oxicoal product was found to be abl
e to remove not only coliphages, but also various pathogenic human vir
uses from seeded water sources. Removal was dependent upon the type of
virus, the period of exposure, and the concentration of oxidized coal
.