The pathogens in drinking water distribution systems pose a health risk to humans, therefore drinking water disinfection is the most important treatment step to keep the consumers away from waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid and polio. Chlorination is the most applied technology in the developed countries. However, the formation of harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs) makes the applicability of this method limited. Thus, it is necessary to find alternative non-toxic methods. Recently, nanomaterials with photocatalytic properties, such as bismuth oxyhalide (BiOX, X = Cl, Br, I) materials have attracted attention due to their structural characteristics, excellent electronic and optical properties. Photocatalysis by BiOX has been recognized as promising method to inactivate microorganisms in water while producing CO2 and H2O as the end products. Thus, the objective of this study was to demonstrate the antimicrobial activity of BiOX nanoparticles on the survival of microorganisms in drinking water under visible light irradiation.