Highly selective ion analysis of sub-ppm Pb(II) on a porous graphitic carbon (PGC) column, is described using ion chromatography with acidified aqueous mobile phases, post-column detection using PAR and spectrophotometric detection. Sensitivity is enhanced by on-line preconcentration of the metal prior to the chromatography using one millilitre injection volumes applied to a calix[4]arene-tetrahydroxamate based chelating precolumn. The method is applied to water samples collected from a river subjected to an industrial effluent discharge and results obtained compare favourably with those obtained using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.