A gas-stripping column with horizontal internal partitions increases the path length and residence time of water within the column. It is therefore more compact and five times more efficient in deoxygenating water than previous designs. A column 128 cm long, using 140 mL/minute of nitrogen gas, removes 97% of the dissolved oxygen from water flowing at 1.0 L/min and 99.5% from a flow of 0.5 L/min. The new design is economical to construct and operate and can facilitate laboratory study of the biological effects of prolonged hypoxia.