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The ability of motile Aeromonasspp. to survive in drinking water (mineral and tap water) and in sea water was experimentally tested. Clinically isolated cytotoxic strains of A. hydrophila, A. caviaeand A. sobriawere selected for this study. After contamination of water samples, the survival of Aeromonasstrains was studied for at least three months using viable counts. The results obtained show that the survival of the Aeromonasspp. varies considerably depending on species and water type. For all three species, the survival time was longest in mineral water, where viable bacteria of each strain were still detected after 100 d. Moreover, A. hydrophilaand A. caviaealso re‐grew on the first day. In tap water all strains showed marked survival, although to a lesser extent than in mineral water. Aeromonascells showed a rapid decline in sea water (90% reduction in viable cells after about two d) and thus seem to be more sensitive to saline/marine stress than chlorination.