The article explores how increasing natural organic matter in water sources affects water treatment methods. The researchers tested different strategies like using granular activated carbon (GAC) to filter out dissolved organic carbon. GAC showed promise by removing around 60% of the carbon and reducing the formation of harmful disinfection by-products. However, pre-treating with KMnO4 to remove iron and manganese didn't work well, and GAC filters released some dissolved manganese. This suggests that using GAC for filtration may not effectively remove manganese if not pre-treated properly. The study highlights the challenges faced in water treatment due to changing water quality and the need for comprehensive solutions that go beyond just filtering out organic matter.