The　characteristics　of　drinking　water　treatment　sludge　(DWTS)　are　important　factors　limiting　the　coagulation　effect　after　sludge　recycling.　To　enhance　the　coagulation　performance　of　DWTS　recycling,　a　two-step　pretreat-ment　strategy　was　employed,　including　ozonation　pre-oxidation　and　the　re-flocculation　of　polymeric　aluminum　chloride　(PACl)　and　polyacrylamide　(PAM).　Ozonation　pre-oxidation　transformed　insoluble　organic　matter　into　dissolved　organic　matter　(DOM),　reducing　the　organic　content　by　12.58%　for　UV254　and　8.94%　for　dissolved　organic　carbon　(DOC)　in　the　DWTS　recycling　process.　Following　re-flocculation　with　PACl　and　PAM,　the　size,　zeta　potential,　and　settling　velocity　of　the　ozonated　sludge　were　further　increased　from　30.27　mu　m,-12.57　mV,　and　2.06　mm/s　to　187.6　mu　m,-3.49　mV,　and　6.42　mm/s,　respectively,　which　exhibited　higher　turbidity　removal　in　DWTS　recycling　process.　Following　the　two-step　method,　larger,　denser,　and　more　reversible　flocs　were　observed　during　the　recycling　process,　and　the　settling　efficiency　of　the　flocs　was　enhanced,　which　enabled　achieving　better　water　quality　in　a　shorter　duration.　These　findings　provide　innovative　insights　into　drinking　water　plant　optimization　and　sludge　management.