In response to the shortcomings of the current methods for detecting heavy metal elements in liquid, the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy-glow discharge (LIBS-GD) combined method is introduced for detecting Cu element in the Yellow River water. By measuring the Cu mass concentration of different standard solutions, a standard curve for Cu is established using the internal standard method, resulting in a detection limit of Cu element of 0.045 mg/L. The Cu mass concentration of the Yellow River water at different sampling points is measured experimentally using LIBS-GD, and the measurement results are compared with those of flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method. The results show that the two methods have good consistency. The LIBS-GD combined technique demonstrates good performance in detecting Cu element, offering a more convenient and efficient option for heavy metal elements detection in water body.