A method was described for the determination of the elements Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Bi in waters by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) after separation and preconcentration on Amberlite XAD-16 resin with sodium tetraborate using a chromatographic column. Parameters influencing the analytical performance, including pH and the volume of sample, amount of analyte and interfering effect of co-existing ions, were studied in detail. The recovery values were quantitative (> or = 95%), and the relative standard deviation (RSD) and detection limit (DL) varied in the range of 1.1-2.4% (n=10) and 0.002-0.177 microg m(-1) (3s, n=20), respectively. After being optimized, the proposed method was applied to the drinking water, waste water and artificial sea water samples. Recovery values of the elements investigated, were quantitative for tap water and synthetic sea water, except for Mn, Co and Ni (including also Cd for synthetic sea water). Recovery values of Cd, Pb, Cu and Co were found to be 95, 102, < or = 87, and < or = 83%, respectively, for the waste water samples.