Catalytic reduction of nitrate (NO 3 -) in groundwater over a Cu-Pd catalyst supported on active carbon was investigated in a gas-liquid co-current flow system at 298 K. Although CuPd/active carbon, in which the Cu/Pd molar ratio was more than 0.66, showed high activity, high selectivity for the formation of N 2 and N 2 O (98%), and high durability for the reduction of 100 ppm NO 3 -in distilled water, the catalytic performance decreased during the reduction of NO 3 -in groundwater. The catalyst also irreversibly deactivated during the reaction in groundwater. The organic species in the groundwater caused the decrease in the catalytic performance and the irreversible catalyst deactivation. Ozone-treatment of the groundwater to remove the organic species substantially helped to maintain the catalytic activity and to halt the irreversible deactivation of the catalyst. Chloride ion (Cl -) in the groundwater also caused the decrease in the activity and selectivity, but the effects of Cl -were reversible. Sulfate ion (SO 4 2-) and cations, including Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ and K + , had little or no effect on the catalytic performance of Cu-Pd/active carbon, though they were present in the groundwater sample.More than an allowable level of NH 3 (NH 4 + ) was formed during the catalytic reduction of NO 3 -in the groundwater, but was completely removed by the cation-exchange process using Namordenite.3