Summary.The recovery ofPseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, andStreptococcus faecalisfrom aqueous suspending media has been studied with a rich plating medium (trypticase‐soy agar) and selective media. Tap water was highly toxic to all strains investigated. Recovery ofPs. aeruginosawas most successful when phosphate buffer was the diluent. Phosphate buffer did not improve the recovery ofE. coli. Streptococcus faecalisremained viable when suspended in double distilled water, deionized distilled water or phosphate buffer. Following a lag period all strains grew in 0.1% peptone water or stream water. Injury preventing recovery of viable cells on selective media occurred during suspension in all aqueous media tested, including those which supported growth. These observations suggest difficulties inherent in the interpretation of bacteriological results obtained during surveys of water sources and a need to reduce the selectivity of recovery media against injured cell