Media filters are used in drinking water treatment, where multimedia filters are used as a primary or secondary filtration step to remove a wider range of particle sizes and types than sand filters, including organic matter and smaller particles.  
Municipal drinking water systems often use a rapid sand filter and/or a slow sand filter for purification. Silica sand is the most widely used medium in such filters. Anthracite coal, garnet sand, ilmenite, granular activated carbon, manganese green sand and crushed recycled glass are among the alternative filter media used.