AbstractA method is described for the determination of fifteen active ingredients of plant protecting products in ground‐, raw, and drinking water. After extraction and enrichment of the pesticides from the water sample with solid‐phase extraction, the extract is fractionated on silica‐coated TLC plates, first in a so‐called screening gradient by AMD (automated multiple development). The detection of the pesticides is performed by UV multidetection. Positive results from the first separation are confirmed by a second separation on silica in an AMD gradient of distinctly different selectivity, compared to the first separation. Following this strategy, it is possible to distinguish nearly all nonvolatile, from water extractable, active ingredients of plant protecting products in the market. UV spectra are taken for further confirmation of positive results. In most cases, this is possible even at the limit of determination.All chromatograms and spectra shown are raw data, resulting from the confirmatory test DIN 38407 part 11, in the laboratory of one participant*). The method is standardized in the meantime as DIN V 3