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Animal wastes are a major contributor of nutrients and enteric microorganisms to surface and ground water. Since polyacrylamide (PAM) is an effective flocculent, we hypothesized it would reduce transport of microorganisms in flowing water. We measured total coliform bacteria (TC) and fecal coliform bacteria (FC) in water flowing at 15.5 l min-1 in furrows over 9.9 l cattle, fish or swine manure and then (PAM)+Al(SO4)3 or PAM+CaO. After water flowed over manure and then PAM+Al(SO4)3, or PAM+CaO , TC and FC were reduced by 0.5 to 1000 fold in water flowing 1 and 27 m downstream of the treatments compared to the control treatment. PAM+Al(SO4)3 and PAM+CaO should be able to reduce the numbers of enteric bacteria in animal wastewater running off animal confinement areas, reducing the bacteria entering surface and ground waters.