To investigate the bacterial growth on granular activated carbon (GAC) for the purification of tap water, fixed bed columns with GAC were installed and operated at an empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 1 min$pm$0.08 min. There was no bacterial breakthrough in the spring. However, the bacterial concentrations of effluent (($10^3$ CFU/ml) were higher than that of the influent ($10^2$ CFU/ml) after 10 day operation in summer. More bacteria were enumerated near the entering point of the tap water, while the bacterial activities were similar throughout the columns. Different bacterial species were detected on coal- and plant-based GAC, although the dominant genus was the same as Acinetobacter.