The requirements for pharmaceutical water vary depending on the intended use. In general, it is classified into different quality grades, including:

  • Water for Injection (WFI): This is the highest quality grade and is used for the production of injectables and parenteral medicines (administered by injection). WFI must be virtually free of any contaminants and microorganisms.
  • Purified Water (PW): This is highly purified water used in many pharmaceutical processes, such as the production of medicines, ointments, and creams. It must meet specific purity requirements to ensure that it is suitable for these applications.
  • Water for Manufacturing (HPW): Often used for the production of non-injectable medicines, where the purity requirements are less strict than for WFI or PW.
  • Water for Dialysis (WFD): Used for hemodialysis, a procedure for cleaning the blood in patients with kidney failure. It must be free of contaminants such as bacteria, endotoxins, and heavy metals to protect patient health.