The article presents an assessment of the effectiveness of municipal wastewater treatment using sand filters of vertical flow with granular activated carbon. Research of organic compounds, nitrogen compounds and total suspension removal were performed under increasing hydraulic loading rates.It was found that the treatment of domestic sewage in a multi-layer sand filter with granular activated carbon ensured the quality of the filtrate for hydraulic loading rates 43 mm∙d-1 and 88 mm∙d-1. Due to the changing conditions within the layers observed large fluctuations reduce the effectiveness of BOD5 (6- 99% ), ChZTCr (31 - 90% ) and total suspension (55 -95%).Tthe effectiveness of removing organic compounds, nitrogen compounds and total suspension was determined. It was shown that the single-layer granular activated carbon filter was adequate to establish in the interior of the optimal conditions for the development of both heterotrophic bacteria and nitrifying bacteria. For 3 month cycle mean effectiveness of BOD5, CODCr and total suspension was respectively 98%, 97% and 87%. ...