Five active filtration bed materials were tested for their efficiency in Mn removal from water (Mn concn. 0.2 to 1.4 mg/L) on a test stand consisting of 3 columns (6 cm in diam., 3 m in length) filled with the tested materials (water flow rate 5 and 10 m/h). The particular beds were characterized by the catalytic activity coeff. calcid. as a product of their sp. surface, pore vol. and MnO2 content in the surface layer. The MnO2-based materials showed a 100% efficiency in the Mn removal while the quartz sand (used for comparison) removed only 20-26% of Mn contained in the raw water.