Experience with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) in the analysis of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons in water samples is described. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used as a final analytical method. It was found that SPME provides reproducible results, especially when the method of internal standard is used for the calibration. The detection limit of the SPME-GC-MS is below 1 mg.l^-1 for most of the volatile halogenated hydrocarbons tested, even if the MS instrument is operated in the full-scan mode. Advantages of the SPME can be summarized as follows: the method is simple, rapid and straightforward, does not require solvents, and only a small volume of water sample is needed.