通过降低可与消毒剂反应的可生物降解有机物的水平，生物饮用水处理在帮助公用事业公司在不影响消毒的情况下满足更严格的副产品法规方面具有相当大的潜力。一个基于机械模型和经验模型的初步框架正在形成，它将允许对给定的水进行可行性评估和生物处理工艺的初步设计。目前，此类模型预测必须通过试点研究予以确认。由于缺乏BOM、氯化副产品前体和氯需求的成品水标准，阻碍了生物处理工艺的合理设计。这些标准必须等待各种水质参数与分配系统中的细菌再生、副产品形成和消毒剂残留消耗之间确定因果关系。 迫切需要有关生物过滤器颗粒去除方面的设计和操作标准。需要采取操作策略，以确保排放至配水系统的生物处理水中不存在较高水平的细菌内毒素或GAC罚款。

By reducing the levels of biodegradable organic matter available to react with disinfectants, biological drinking water treatment has considerable promise in helping utilities to meet stricter byproduct regulations without compromising disinfection. A preliminary framework is emerging, based on both mechanistic and empirical models, which will allow feasibility assessments and preliminary design of biological treatment processes for a given water. Currently, such model predictions must be confirmed by pilot studies. The lack of finished water criteria for BOM, chlorination byproduct precursors and chlorine demand hampers the rational design of biological treatment processes. Such criteria must await the establishment of definitive cause-and-effect relationships between various water quality parameters and bacterial regrowth, byproduct formation and disinfectant residual depletion in distribution systems. Design and operating criteria relating to the particle removal aspects of biological filters are urgently required. Operational strategies are needed to ensure that elevated levels of bacterial endotoxin or GAC fines are not present in biologically treated water discharged to the distribution system.