📌 Types of Water in Pharmaceuticals, Usage, and Preparation Techniques

🔹 1. Potable Water (Drinking Water)

• Usage:

  • Base feed for preparation of Purified Water, WFI, and Clean Steam.

  • Used for general cleaning (non-product contact).

• Preparation Technique:

  • Obtained from municipal supply or borewell.

  • Treated by filtration, chlorination, and dechlorination.

🔹 2. Purified Water (PW)

• Usage:

  • Used in non-sterile product manufacturing.

  • For cleaning of equipment and containers.

  • Feed water for WFI and Clean Steam generators.

• Preparation Technique:

  • Treated using Reverse Osmosis (RO), Deionization (DI), Electro-deionization (EDI), UV sterilization, Ultrafiltration.

  • Stored and circulated in stainless steel loop (SS 316L) at >70°C or with UV/ozone.

🔹 3. Water for Injection (WFI)

• Usage:

  • Used for parenterals, ophthalmic solutions, sterile products.

  • For final rinse of equipment and containers in sterile manufacturing.

• Preparation Technique:

  • Produced by Distillation (Multi-effect distiller or Vapor Compression distillation).

  • Stored at >80°C and circulated in stainless steel loops.

🔹 4. Highly Purified Water (HPW) (European Pharmacopoeia)

• Usage:

  • Used in the preparation of sterile products (alternative to WFI in some cases).

• Preparation Technique:

  • Obtained by membrane processes (RO + Ultrafiltration + EDI).

🔹 5. Sterile Water for Injection (SWFI)

• Usage:

  • Supplied in sealed containers (ampoules, vials) as a solvent for reconstitution of drugs.

• Preparation Technique:

  • Sterile filtration and aseptic filling of WFI.

🔹 6. Sterile Water for Inhalation

• Usage:

  • Used for inhalation solutions/nebulization.

• Preparation Technique:

  • Similar to SWFI but without bacteriostatic agents.

🔹 7. Sterile Water for Irrigation

• Usage:

  • Used in surgical/irrigation procedures.

• Preparation Technique:

  • Packaged in large volume sterile containers.

🔹 8. Sterile Water for Hemodialysis

• Usage:

  • Used in the preparation of dialysate for hemodialysis.

• Preparation Technique:

  • Produced from purified water using ultrafiltration membranes.

🔹 9. Bacteriostatic Water for Injection

• Usage:

  • Used as a diluent for multi-dose injections.

• Preparation Technique:

  • Sterile water with an antimicrobial preservative (e.g., benzyl alcohol).