We have investigated the application of the HTS bulk magnets to the magnetic separation techniques for the waste water drained from the university laboratories. The study has been conducted in comparison with the electromagnets, and the cryo-cooled superconducting solenoid magnet. A superconducting bulk magnet has the highest value of the trapped magnetic fields at the centre of the sample surface, showing a sharp gradient of the magnetic field on the surface. Magnetic force acting on magnetic particles in magnetic fields is given by the product of a magnetization of particles and a gradient of magnetic field. The HTS bulk is superior to a solenoid magnet which his a poor gradient in magnetic fields in a bore. The separation ratios of ferrite precipitates in the waste slurry were estimated by means of the high gradient magnetic separation method which requires iron filters in the water channel and open gradient magnetic separation without any filters. The magnetic separation using HTS bulk magnet is substantially effective for the practical water purification. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.