Different types of controlled release formulations of pesticides for application in fresh water systems has been developed. Release mechanisms and rates of some selected herbicides from ethylenevinylacetate copolymer (EVA) formulations, calcium alginate formulations and wettable powders as conventional control were studied. Release from wettable powder formulations were completely finished within one day, whereas release from calciumalginate formulations lasted up to two weeks and from EVA-formulations up to several months and years respectively. EVA-formulation of terbutryn was applied in a laboratory flowsystem device containing duckweeds (lemna minor) as test species. During several weeks equilibrium concentrations between 10 ppb and 200 ppb could be obtained. Herbicidal effects could be observed even at 10 ppb terbutryn.