A method for the determination of phenol, chlorophenols and nitrophenols at levels below those allowed by international legislation in water from the public supply is proposed. Ten of the compounds studied are included on the USA Environmental Protection Agency priority list of aquatic pollutants. Samples are concentrated off-line on cross-linked polystyrene and subsequently subjected to capillary electrophoresis using the sample stacking procedure to remove the matrix. The recoveries afforded by the off-line concentration process and the behaviour of the phenols in relation to sample stacking injection were examined.