This study investigated characteristics of algal organic matter (AOM) derived from four species (cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and Merismopedia tenuissima, diatom Fragilaria crotonensis and green alga Chlamydomonas geitleri) dominating phytoplanktonic populations in the reservoirs supplying drinking water treatment plants - the water reservoirs Švihov (the Želivka water treatment plant) and Josefův Důl (the Jizerské Mountains), Czech Republic. The four mentioned microorganisms were cultivated under laboratory conditions and the algal growth was quantified by a number of cells, chrorophyll-a and optical density. Production of AOM was evaluated by dissolved organic carbon concentration measurements, by specific UV absorbance, the amount of peptide/protein and non-peptide (carbohydrate) contents, water affinity and molecular weight (MW). AOM of all considered microorganisms are formed predominantly by hydrophilic substances with low values of specific UV absorbance (< 2 L/(m.mg)). Considerable portions of both types of AOM, i.e. extracellular and cellular organic matters are represented by substances with MW < 1 kDa or with MW > 100 kDa. However, the total amount and composition of AOM significantly depend on algal species and their growth. The obtained results imply that the knowledge of AOM...