226Ra is one of the key nuclides among the natural radionuclides from the point of view of radiation protection. For monitoring the radiation exposure risk along the water pathway it has to be measured routinely with low detection limits. Because of the properties of 226Ra and its progenies, a number of quite different methods are possible for this purpose. This paper presents a comparison of routine techniques for the determination of 226Ra in water samples as applied by the authors.