Can bacteria grow better in salt water or fresh water?

Question

it is for a science project.

Answer 1

They probably have their preferences.

  Some may not thrive in salt water and another in fresh.

Answer 2

Bacteria grow better in salt water as fresh water is too clean for bacteria to grow.

Answer 3

It really depends on the type of bacteria and the temperature of the water. Most species that prefer to live in a human's blood stream will like salt water over fresh. It is a lot more similar in chemical composition. But there are hundreds of water born disease that humans get from drinking contaminated fresh water. Most of these are also bacteria.