A complex of express optical methods and apparatuses has been developed that make it possible to measure a wide class of hydrobiological, hydrophysical and hydrochemical characteristics of water bodies. An original complex of sorption-spectroscopic techniques for determination of toxicants in natural waters using methods of solid phase spectroscopy (diffuse reflection spectroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy, solid phase spectrophotometry), atomic spectroscopy (atomic absorption spectroscopy and atomic emission spectroscopy with luminescence spectroscopy spectroscopy), atomic spectroscopy (atomic absorption spectroscopy and atomic emission spectroscopy with luminescence spectroscopy spectroscopy) and various other methods were developed. SR), chromatographic (ion chromatography) methods, On the basis of such multidisciplinary systems of rapid assessment of ecological condition and functioning of ecosystems, quality of surface waters the analytical, hardware and information support for monitoring and control of the quality of the natural environment was created.