The application of spectral analysis to water quality monitoring is an important developing trend in the field of modern environment monitoring technology.The principle and characteristic of water quality monitoring technology based on UV-Vis spectrum analysis are briefly reviewed.And the research status and advances are introduced from two aspects, on-line monitoring and in-situ monitoring.Moreover, the existent key technical problems are put forward Finally, the technology trends of multi-parameter water quality monitoring microsystem and microsystem networks based on microspectrometer are prospected, which has certain reference value for the research and development of envirnormental monitoring technology and modern scientific instrument in the authors’ country.