We assessed the bacteriological water quality in the Pearl River and Ross Barnett reservoir, a major source of public raw water for the city of Jackson, Mississippi, USA and an important site for recreational activities for local residents and visitors. Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria are the most common and widespread health risks associated with such water contact activities as bathing, canoeing, and swimming in recreational waters. Water samples collected twice monthly from April 2004 to April 2005 from five different sites of the Pearl river/Ross Barnett reservoir were tested for heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and enterococci using membrane filtration technique. Physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity) were also analyzed using standard methods. The respective mean concentrations of bacteria in water samples were 8.9 x 10(4) +/- 7.4 x 10(4) colony forming units (CFU) 100 mL(-1), 3.0 x 10(3) +/- 4.1 x 10(3) CFU 100 mL(-1), 2.3 x 10(2) +/- 5.4 x 10(2) CFU 100 mL(-1), and 2.3 x 10(2) +/- 4.8 x 10(2) CFU 100 mL(-1) for heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, enterococci, and fecal coliforms. The mean values of the physical and chemical parameters were at acceptable levels. Bacterial densities, however, significantly exceeded federal/state guidelines, raising public health concerns. Hence, control strategies should be developed and implemented to prevent further bacterial contamination of Pearl River-Ross Barnett reservoir water resource system.