In order to enable the design of biofilters for natural organic matter (NOM) removal in drinking water treatment without prior experimental on site investigations a model was developed which was aimed to give a closed description of the processes taking place in such bioreactors. Based on experimental observations special attention was given the model to describe bacterial attachment and detachment to the media surface, biodegradation of substrate and the grazing of protozoa. The model can be applied to steady-state as well as dynamic simulations. Quais steady-state simulations are shown. They were in excellent agreement with experimental results. The effects of flow rate and water temperature on removal of dissolved organic matter and HPC-bacteria as a function of bed depth are demonstrated. Includes 34 references, table, figures.