Experimental investigation of drag reduction by adding a polymer additive(polyacrylamid, N-401P) into water is carried out in a Circular Water Channel. The effect of viscosity, surface roughness and degradation as a function of running time is also measured with varying the concentration of polymer additives(20ppm,100ppm) and Reynolds numbers. Near and far wakes past a circular cylinder are observed by LDV. Drag forces are measured with a strain-gaged device. The experimental results show that around 5%-30% of drag reduction with the polymer solution are observed. The larger effects of drag reduction can be found at low range of Reynolds number, more roughened surface cylinder. The effect of polymer solution for near wakes is larger than for far wakes.