The work examines the features of photometric determination of copper (II) ions in wastewater from several industrial facilities in the Navoi region. Xylene orange, which forms a stable colored complex compound with Cu (II), was used as an analytical reagent. Complex formation conditions, including pH of the medium and reagent concentration, have been optimized. The obtained results allowed for the development of a methodology for the quantitative determination of copper in the concentration range characteristic of real industrial wastewater. Wastewater samples were analyzed and the contamination level based on copper content was assessed.