The survival of Aeromonas hydrophila AWWX1 in filter-sterilized phreatic groundwaters was studied by using viable counts. Aeromonas counts rapidly decreased 2 to 3 log units in oxidizing raw groundwaters from Snellegem and Beernem, Belgium (Snellegem-raw and Beernem-raw, respectively), containing high concentrations of Fe2+ (460 to 1,070 microM). The rapid decline in viable counts of Aeromonas cells in the oxidizing raw groundwater of Snellegem was prevented by the addition of an Fe2+ chelator (2,2'-dipyridyl) or compounds (i.e., ascorbic acid and catalase) that act on toxic oxygen species. The results suggest that free radicals, generated spontaneously in oxidizing Fe2+-containing groundwaters, caused the inactivation of A. hydrophila AWWX1. Evidence that free radicals are generated under the given conditions was provided by the observation that propylphosphonic acid, a compound which is very susceptible to radicals, was degraded upon addition to these waters. A. hydrophila PWBS, Pseudomonas fluorescens P17, Spirillum strain NOX, and heterotrophs showed decreases in culturability in filter-sterilized Snellegem-raw water similar to that shown by A. hydrophila AWWX1. These findings indicate that free radicals generated in Fe2+-containing groundwaters upon aeration are capable of inactivating various bacterial species.