Abstract: Provided herein is a process for treating water containing natural organic matter (NOM) to produce potable water, the process comprising a plurality of oxidation steps for degrading NOM, wherein the plurality of oxidation steps comprise one or more of subjecting water to inorganic oxidant, oxygenation, catalytic oxidation, and catalytically advanced oxidation (CAO). Also provided herein is a process for treating water for producing potable water, the process comprising a plurality of oxidation steps; wherein the plurality of oxidation steps comprise one or more of fragmentation of NOM with ozone, homogeneous catalytic oxidation with ozone, and catalytically advanced oxidation using granular metal oxide catalyst.

Abstract: A process for treating water containing contaminants comprising the steps of: (a) contacting water to be treated with an inorganic oxidising salt containing manganese or iron for a time effective for oxidising a portion of said contaminants; (b) contacting water treated in oxidation step (a) with at least a chlorine containing agent for disinfection and to generate, in situ and through reaction with chemical compounds produced in pre-oxidation step (a), a coagulant for coagulating oxidised contaminants present in the water; (c) separating coagulated contaminants from the water; and (d) subjecting water to a catalytic oxidation for oxidising residual oxidisable contaminants, said catalytic oxidation being catalysed, in part, by manganese or iron species, depending on the residual selected oxidising salt left in solution in water after oxidation step (a).