Reactions between humic acid solutions and excessive ClO2 or Cl2 have been investigated. Under various experimental conditions, the removal efficiency of TOC, UV254 and A140 from humic acid solutions were examined. The relationship between the removal efficiency and the consumption of ClO2 or Cl2 was discussed. The results showed that the maximum demand of ClO2 was 2.19 mg/mg TOC for the humic acid solution under the experimental conditions, and that of Cl2 was 1.88 mg/mg TOC. The variation tendency of ClO2 consumption was similar to that of Cl2. TOC of humic acid solutions decreased 15.2% and 15.6% after the reaction with ClO2 or Cl2 respectively. Under the experimental conditions, 21.4% of unsaturated bonds and 52.8% of humic acid color were removed by ClO2 in 168 h. As for Cl2, removal efficiency of unsaturated bonds and humic acid color were 16.8% and 41.7% respectively. Larger molecules from humic acid were oxidized to smaller molecules by ClO2 and Cl2. Higher oxidation potential of ClO2 than that of Cl2 was also indicated by variation of UV254/A410 ratios. The similar tendency, that exhibited faster variation in the initial 24 h, existed for all the research factors.