The objective of the study was to investigate the removal of synthetic organic compounds and THM precursors by two photocatalytic oxidation processes in the presence of synthetic polymers. H202/UV and O3/UV processes were tested on solutions of nitrobenzene and aquatic fulvic substances in the absence and presence of Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) and a Betz Polymer. The presence of high concentrations of PEO reduced the removal rate of nitrobenzene by competing with it for hydroxyl radicals. The presence of low concentrations of PEO did not significantly alter the removal rate of nitrobenzene and THM precursors. Experimental results indicated that even in the presence of the polymers, decomposition rather than coupling was the favored reaction pathway.