The concentrations of somatic coliphages (SC) and F-specific RNA bacteriophages in effluent of three wastewater treatment plants in Beijing city were detected. Somatic coliphages and F-RNA bacteriophages in source wastewater were 6.25 x 10(3) - 1.34 x 10(4) PFU x mL(-1) and 2.4 x 10 - 2.4 x 10(3) PFU x mL(-1) respectively, and the corresponding average removal rates were 72.45% - 99.89 % and 57.84% - 93.06% by the wastewater processes, and which were lower than that of faecal coliforms. Biological aerated stage appeared to be the most efficient step in reducing the numbers of phages in wastewater, but not obviously in sand filter. The result of predicted concentrations of enteroviruses according to concentrations of F-RNA bacteriophages in water show that there are 0.65 - 15.8 PFU x L(-1) of the enteroviruses in final effluent.