Abstract: Removing fulvic acid from surface water using conventional drinking water treatments is difficult and generates harmful disinfection byproducts during the disinfection process. In this study, ultraviolet (UV), peroxydisulfate (PDS), and H₂O₂ treatments were applied as advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for degrading fulvic acid. The degradation performances of the different AOPs in treating fulvic acid were compared. The fluorescence excitation emission matrix (FEEM) spectroscopy results indicate that the UV/PDS co-treatment can effectively remove recalcitrant fulvic acid within 10 min, which can reduce the odor and color problems caused by fulvic acid and mitigate disinfection byproduct generation in the follow-up disinfection process.