This study evaluated the effects of shutdowns on a biological activated carbon (BAC) filter by: quantifying the variations of substrated concentrations inside stagnant BAC filters; monitoring biomass concentrations inside BAC filters during shutdown; and, monitoring the chemistry of filter effluent after restart following a filter shutdown. In step one, concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ammonia, dissolved oxygen (DO), and the surrogate parameters nitrite, nitrate, and bromide were measured; in step two, densities of fixed bacteria and concentrations of suspended bacteria and endotoxins were measured; and in step three, effluent concentrations of DOC, ammonia, nitrites, and bromide were measured. Includes 17 references, tables, figures.