In order to improve waterworks’ ability of emergency response to ethylbenzene pollution,the efficiency of ethylbenzene adsorption onto PAC was experimentally studied.Bench experiments were conducted to estimate the removal of chlorbenzene by conventional water treatment process and to determine isotherm and kinetics for ethylbenzene adsorption onto powdered activated carbon(PAC).A theoretical formula of PAC dose with initial concentration of ethylbenzene and adsorption time was established and verified by experimental results.The results show that it is difficult for conventional water treatment process to remove ethylbenzene effectively;PAC can adsorb ethylbenzene in raw water rapidly with 80% and 95% of the equilibrium adsorption capacity at 5 min and 30 min,respectively;PAC adsorption is an effective emergency drinking water treatment technology for water works to cope with ethylbenzene sudden pollution in raw water.