The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biocidal effect of peracetic acid (PAA) in cooling water, in order to find alternatives to the use of chlorine, which is corrosive and reacts with natural and synthetic organic matter present in water, forming toxic byproducts. To achieve this goal, experiments using water samples taken from a basin of a chemical industry cooling tower were conducted. Experiments were performed using a commercial PAA solution, with concentrations of 1,0 mgL-1 and 2,0 mgL-1 and pH 8,0 and 8,8. Each study condition was monitored for 5 days and total mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria counts were made without biocide and after different contact times of the biocide and microorganisms present in water. The contact times were 5 min, and 1, 2 and 4 h per day, considering the application of the biocide in total periods of 4 h per day. This methodology has allowed concluding that two dosages applied were efficient in controlling microorganisms at the two pH values. From a water natural microbial count of 106 to 107 UFC/mL, after treatment there was a reduction to maximum counts to 104 UFC/mL in all experiments, that being the upper limit adopted by industries for microorganisms in cooling water systems. However, the results were 10 times more efficient when 2,0 mgL-1 of PAA were applied. In addition, at pH 8,0 the biocidal action was 10 times higher in comparison to pH 8,8 for the same PAA concentration.