Cloete, Thomas EugeneBrözel, Volker SiegfriedPressly, J.2008-01-092008-01-091989-01Cloete, TE, Brözel, VS & Pressly, J 1989, 'A bacterial population structure study of water cooling systems in South Africa', Water SA, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 37-42. [http://www.wrc.org.za/publications_watersa]0378-4738http://hdl.handle.net/2263/4164Bacteria forming biofilms occur in all open water cooling systems where they accelerate metallic corrosion, reduce flow rate and decrease heat energy transfer rate. A population structure study of seven systems was conducted. The isolate most frequently encountered was Pseudomonas fluorescens (35,5%), the species commonly used in research regarding biofilm formation. This was followed by Chromobacter violaceum, P. pickettii, P. stutzeri and P. putida, each amounting to 6,6%. The dominant organisms occurred in two groups of over 85% relatedness between their biochemical reaction patterns. Overall four distinguishable groups occurred on the 90% similarity level.294351 bytesapplication/pdfenWater Research CouncilWater cooling systemsBacterial population structureBacteriology -- Cultures and culture mediaBiofilmsPseudomonas fluorescensArticle