A water utility in Birmingham, Alabama conducted an evaluation of 26 dual media sand filters at four different water treatment facilities to assess the need for system rehabilitation. The filters were selected as representative of the water utility's 86 filters based on influent and effluent piping configurations, underdrain type, media lifts, and performance data. Each filter underwent a filter evaluation including extensive media coring, turbidity profiling, bed expansion tests, hydraulic evaluations, gravel profiles, and mud deposition evaluations. The results of the bed expansion and hydraulic evaluations showed that most filters experienced less than 20 percent expansion. Mud deposition results from media cores before and after backwash showed little removal of floc from the filter during backwash. Media samples taken from random filters were acid washed resulting in a significant liberation of accumulated metals (Mn, Ca, and Fe) as well as floc. Poor filter backwash performance did not appear impacted by piping configurations or filter characteristics. Furthermore, the limited efficacy of backwashing on filter media condition did not translate into poor filter performance. Filtered turbidity, for all plants, was historically below 0.1 ntu. Filtered turbidities were below 0.1 ntu throughout the evaluation period. Recent coagulant evaluations for improved organics removal at two of these plants showed that while the filters generally performed well under normal conditions, changes to the primary coagulant or coagulant aids resulted in problematic filter operation. The problems included rapid headloss or turbidity breakthrough despite little evidence of carryover during coagulant trials. It was apparent that the accumulation of coagulant and filter aid in the filter media helped produce low filtered turbidities. However, this build up of chemical made the process more sensitive to changes in treatment chemical usage. Strategies for improving filter media expansion and hydraulic control have since been developed and are being implemented at each plant to provide a more robust filtration process. Filtered turbidity data does not provide an adequate measure of filter process condition. Filters should be evaluated periodically regardless of historic filtered turbidities. Pending regulations are requiring improved performance from existing treatment facilities, primarily organics removal in coagulation. Before testing new coagulation strategies, utilities should evaluate filter media condition to avoid the risk of treatment failure. Includes 3 references, tables, figures.