A novel, rapid ion-chromatographic method for screening anionic pollutants in ground water, based on both conductivity and postcolumn spectrophotometric detection, has been developed. A relatively rapid separation of more than ten inorganic and polarizable anions was achieved by coupling an high capacity, hydroxide selective anion-exchange columns (Dionex IonPac AS16) supplied with an electrolytic eluent generator operating in gradient mode. The good control of the selectivity allowed the determination of polarizable anions including arsenate, thiocyanate, thiosulfate and perchlorate without interference from major components present at levels greater than 100 mg l(-1). This method was applied to the determination of arsenate in ground water samples collected in industrial and agricultural zones of Lombardia (Northern Italy). No traces of arsenate were detected in any sample, but added arsenate cannot be revealed by chromatographic analyses. This fact can be attributed to different causes, from reduction to the more reduced arsenic form to precipitation or dissolution in organic or inorganic based colloids. Oxidation with hydrogen peroxide seems to be useful for a partial recovery of added arsenate, but a stronger oxidation method, compatible with chromatographic separation, must be studied.