An automatic flow injection method for aluminium speciation in waters at the nanogram per millilitre level is reported, based on a Pyrocatechol Violet chelation-ion-exchange method. Data are presented on total reactive aluminium, total monomeric aluminium and non-labile monomeric aluminium. The proposed method is sensitive (detection limit, 5 mug l-1), rapid and reproducible. The results obtained in the analysis of six river and tap water samples were consistent with those provided by the manual counterpart of the method.