The invention relates to a twin-wire web former for a paper machine wherein a covering wire and a carrying wire form a twin-wire forming zone between them. A method for dewatering a web is also disclosed. In the invention, water is drained out of a web running through the twin-wire zone through both of the wires. After the twin-wire zone, the web is separated from the covering wire and is transferred on the carrying wire to a pick-up point. In hybrid formers, after an initial single-wire forming zone preceding the twin-wire zone, and in gap formers, after a curved forming zone placed directly after a forming gap, there is a forming shoe provided with a ribbed deck and arranged inside one of the wire loops. This forming shoe is followed by dewatering and web forming units which include forming ribs and are placed inside both of the wire loops. At least one of the dewatering and web forming units is loaded by means of a pressure-hose arrangement.