The invention provides a new method and apparatus for measuring the concentration of ultra-violet light absorbing organic materials liquids, particularly in pure or ultra-pure water, the speed and convenience being such that it is possible to take successive readings with periods as short as ten seconds. The apparatus can be mounted directly in or as a by-pass to a process stream, giving the capability of constant monitoring with virtually instant microprocessor-controlled response to measurements outside a pre-set range. The water to be measured passes upwards in a cylindrical opaque-walled sample cell at the upper end of which is mounted an intense light source, preferably a Xenon flash tube, and at the lower end of which is mounted two transmission photodetectors, which have in front of them respective narrow-band optical transmission filters in the ultra-violet and visible regions. The light source sits on the upper end of a quartz rod which extends into the cell at or below the water inlet and is coaxial with the cell longitudinal axis, the rod serving to direct the light toward the transmission photodetectors. The output from the "visible" photodetector is used to correct the output from the "ultraviolet" photodetector for transmission losses caused by particulates, element fouling and bubbles in the stream. Two reference photodetectors employing two similar transmission filters are disposed close to the flash tube outlet window and their signals are used to correct for variation in the flash tube output.