The anaerobic digester with sludge from sewage treatment plant was operated in the laboratory for two year to investigate the enumeration and activity of methanogenic microorganisms. In this experimental study, the effects of HRT on the degradation characteristics of organic materials and on the number of methanogenic bacteria produced were investigated. By making the media with the repeated wxperiment, the number and activity of methanogenic bacteria were measured. The increase of the removal rate of organic acid in the digester was oberved at HRT of 2 days. The total number of methane forming bacteria estimated by the MPN method showed 2.3 $ imes$ $ at HRT of 3 days, 7$ imes$$</TEX> of 5 days and 7.9$ imes$$ $/ml of 10 days. The optimum incubation time for measuring the number of methanogenic bacteria was found as more than four weeks. The PMA revealed 161ml CH$/l day at HRT of 10 days and the PUA 290mg COD/l day. At the incubation time 4.3 days, the maximum value of CH$ *59.1%) was found. At this time, $ was found as 15.3% and $ 25.6%.