Ionic group doping into the semiconductor photocatalyst is a new concept to improve photocatalytic performance, which always is a difficult challenge. In this paper, PO4-doped Bi2WO6 photocatalyst is prepared by the urea-precipitation way in the hydrothermal process for the first time. The as-prepared sample presents the universal enhanced photocatalytic activity for removing various contaminants in water compared with the pristine Bi2WO6 under visible-light irradiation, such as heavy metal Cr (VI), colored dye RhB, colorless phenol and different kind antibiotics. It attributes to the doping effect of PO4 group in Bi2WO6 influencing on energy band structure, light absorption property and separation efficiency of the charge carriers. This work provides a new insight into anionic group doping effects and takes an important step toward the development of improving Bi-based photocatalyst activity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.