To relate basal nutrients in the water and on the bottom of a warm, fresh water stream to their ability to support growth and multiplication of pathogenic and nonpathogenic enteric bacteria, three studies were designed including a river water quality analysis, respiration experiments, and continuous culture experiments. The presence of coliform bacteria primarily not producing intestinal disease, serves as indicators for potentially infectious microorganisms. Any growth by either coliform bacterial group or the disease producing organisms in the natural aquatic environment could significantly alter our present concepts of detection and surveillance of these organisms. Tests in detecting and analyzing polluted waters, and from levels of the self-purification potential, showed that Oconee River, a typically non-polluted stream of the North Georgia piedmont, is capable of supporting bacterial growth including coliforms.