Several samples of natural (mainly coal-mine) waters were analyzed for the content of Cl, SO4, NO3 and Br ions by ion chromatog. with suppressed cond. detection (elution with soln. of KOH) as well as by titration (Cl ions), gravimetry (SO4 ions), spectrophotometry (NO, ions) and iodometry (Br ions). Use of a com. ion chromatograph was successful. The efficiency of the ion chromatog. method was tested on multicomponent ref. mixt. and interlaboratory studies. A satisfactory agreement of the chromatog. data with the results of conventional anal. was also achieved.