This research effort studied the effect of powdered activated carbon on the removal of trace organics in the water treatment process at New Orleans, LA. The water treatment processes were modeled in bench scale reactors that allowed control of treatment variables. A series of experiments was conducted that incorporated the same treatment parameters as the full scale plant. Three powdered activated carbon dosages of 5, 50, and 500 mg/l were added at different locations in the bench scale treatment scheme and the results were compared to no PAC treatment. The results of the study showed that a dosage of 5 mg/l did not improve the removal of trace organics over the normal full scale treatment system. Only the 500 mg/l dosage performed well enough to achieve the promulgated standard of not more than 0.1 mg/l trihalomethane remaining in the finished water.