Elevated levels of manganese in drinking water can lead to aesthetic concerns, such as problems associated with episodes of brownish-black stains on pipes, faucets and fixtures, laundry and boiled vegetables. Manganese removal can be accomplished with chemical oxidation of soluble manganese to its insoluble oxide form. The insoluble form is then subsequently removed during downstream processes (e.g., filtration). The mechanisms for filtering total manganese are both adsorptive and through particle interception. Manganese oxide can coat filter media during a filter run and develop a natural greensand effect (NGE), which removes soluble manganese by adsorption onto the surface of the media. Although concern has been expressed about the capability of a conventional rapid sand filter for removing manganese oxides by straining or interception, this study demonstrated this as a potential pathway for manganese removal, which will compliment the NGE. Thus for drinking water treatment plants with manganese concerns, this study found that removal with the conventional methods is improved by the addition of a small dose of chemical oxidant immediately prior to filtration to achieve both NGE and particle interception of manganese oxides. Includes 9 references, tables, figure.