FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549



     |X|  QUARTERLY  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended August 1, 1998

                                       OR

     |_|  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Commission file number: 0-3947


                                  Hach Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                                                     42-0704420
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)


                 5600 Lindbergh Drive, Loveland, Colorado 80538
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


                                 (970) 669-3050
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Registrant's telephone number including area code)


                                 Not applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Former name, former address, and former fiscal year,
                         if changed since last report)


     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ____


                   
     Indicate  the  number of  shares  outstanding  of each of the  registrant's
classes of common stock, as of September 10, 1998.


Title                                                        Outstanding

Common Stock                                                 8,972,610
Class A Common Stock                                         8,552,132






Part I.  Financial Information

Item 1.  Financial Statements

         
Summarized Financial Statements

     The  accompanying  Consolidated  Balance Sheet as of August 1, 1998 and the
Consolidated  Statements of Income and Retained  Earnings for the quarters ended
August 1, 1998 and August 2, 1997 and the Consolidated  Statements of Cash Flows
for the quarters ended August 1, 1998 and August 2, 1997 are unaudited; however,
in the  opinion  of  management  all  adjustments  (consisting  only  of  normal
recurring  adjustments)  considered  necessary  for a fair  presentation  of the
results of such  periods  have been made.  The  results  of  operations  for the
quarters ended August 1, 1998 and August 2, 1997 are not necessarily  indicative
of the results of operations to be expected for the full year.

     The financial data included herein pursuant to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X
has been subjected to a review by  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP, the Registrant's
independent accountants.




                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
                    (Thousands of Dollars Except Share Data)
                                   (Unaudited)




                                            QUARTER ENDED         QUARTER ENDED              
                                           AUGUST 1, 1998        AUGUST 2, 1997            
                                           --------------        --------------           
                                                                                  
Net sales                                        $ 36,776              $ 32,414           
Cost of sales                                      18,080                16,551            
                                                ---------             ---------          
  Gross profit                                     18,696                15,863            
Selling, general and administrative expense        10,406                 8,886           
Research and development expense                    2,502                 2,167             
                                                ---------             ---------          
  Income from operations                            5,788                 4,810             
Interest income                                       164                   480             
Interest expense                                     (506)                 (140)          
                                                ---------             ---------         
  Income before income taxes                        5,446                 5,150          
Income tax expense                                  1,996                 1,830          
                                                ---------             ---------          

  Net income                                        3,450                 3,320          

Retained earnings, beginning of period           $ 72,628              $ 76,944          
Cash dividends                                       (600)                 (493)          
                                                ---------             ---------          
Retained earnings, end of period                 $ 75,478              $ 79,771           
                                                =========             =========         

Net income per share:      
          Basic                                    $ 0.20                $ 0.16           
          Diluted                                  $ 0.20                $ 0.16           
                                                =========             =========        

Dividends per share:      
          Common stock                             $ 0.03                $ 0.03          
          Class A common stock                     $ 0.04                $ 0.03           
                                                =========             =========        

Weighted average shares outstanding
          Basic                                17,064,432            20,998,460        
          Diluted                              17,172,263            21,031,728        
                                               ==========            ==========               




The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.




                              HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (Thousands of Dollars)



                                             
                                                  AUGUST 1, 1998          April 30, 1998 
                                                  --------------          --------------
                                                   (Unaudited)

ASSETS

  Current assets:
                                                                              
    Cash and cash equivalents                          $   7,684               $   4,358
    Marketable securities, available for sale                324                     680
    Accounts receivable, less reserves
      of $341 and $305, respectively                      18,225                  20,937
    Inventories                                           14,870                  15,360
    Deferred taxes and other current assets                4,834                   5,282
                                                       ---------               ---------

      Total current assets                                45,937                  46,617

  Property, plant and equipment at cost:
    Buildings and improvements                            32,208                  30,615
    Machinery and equipment                               54,407                  52,412
                                                       ---------               ---------
                                                          86,615                  83,027
    Less allowance for depreciation
      and amortization                                    48,915                  47,211
                                                       ---------               ---------
                                                          37,700                  35,816
    Land                                                   1,084                   1,083
                                                       ---------               ---------
      Net property, plant and equipment                   38,784                  36,899

    Marketable securities, available for sale                606                   1,018
    Acquired product technology                           12,047                  12,199
    Goodwill                                               3,191                   3,204  
    Other assets                                           2,381                   2,413
                                                       ---------               ---------

Total Assets                                           $ 102,946               $ 102,350
                                                       =========               =========



The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.




                              HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (Thousands of Dollars)




                                                  AUGUST 1, 1998          April 30, 1998
                                                  --------------          --------------
                                                     (Unaudited)

LIABILITIES

  Current liabilities:
                                                                            
      Current portion of long term debt                $     315               $   1,069
      Accounts payable                                     3,874                   4,591
      Accrued liabilities:
        Compensation                                       1,010                   1,407
        Compensated absences                               4,028                   3,933
        Profit sharing                                     3,839                   3,483
        Income taxes payable                               2,179                     720
        Other                                              1,938                   1,974
                                                       ---------               ---------
          Total current liabilities                       17,183                  17,177

  Long term debt                                          33,300                  35,994
  Other long term liabilities                              2,874                   2,771
  Deferred income taxes                                    6,371                   6,589
                                                       ---------               ---------
        Total liabilities                                 59,728                  62,531

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Common stock, $1 par value; (authorized
    25,000,000 shares; issued 11,622,953 shares)          11,623                  11,623
  Class A Common stock, $1 par value; (authorized
    20,000,000 shares; issued 11,622,953 shares)          11,623                  11,623
  Capital contributed in excess of par value                   -                       -
  Retained earnings                                       75,478                  72,714
  Unearned ESOP shares                                    (2,550)                 (2,629) 
  Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)                    (379)                   (437)
                                                       ---------               ---------
                                                          95,795                  92,894
  Less: Shares held in treasury at cost:
   (2,651,843 Common, 3,072,321 Class A at 
    August 1, 1998 and 2,667,001 Common,
    3,123,074 Class A at April 30, 1998)                 (52,577)                (53,075)
                                                       ---------               ---------
Total Stockholders' Equity                                43,218                  39,819
                                                       ---------               ---------

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity             $ 102,946               $ 102,350
                                                       =========               =========



The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.




                                    HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                       (Thousands of Dollars)
                                             (Unaudited)




                                                                 QUARTER ENDED          QUARTER ENDED
                                                                August 1, 1998         August 2, 1997
                                                              ----------------         --------------
                                                                                            
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income                                                             $ 3,450                $ 3,320
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
  net cash provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation & amortization                                         1,852                  1,573
     Provision for deferred income taxes                                  (287)                  (142)
     Decrease in accounts receivable                                     2,712                    324
     (Increase) decrease in inventories                                    490                   (208)
     Decrease in other current assets                                      517                    596
     (Decrease) in accounts payable                                       (640)                  (664)
     Increase in accrued liabilities                                       848                    698
                                                                       -------                -------

Net cash provided by operating activities                                8,942                  5,497

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Capital expenditures                                               (3,564)                (2,746)
     Purchases of investments                                                -                 (2,079)
     Proceeds from the sale of investments                                 768                 25,459
     (Increase) decrease in long-term assets                                32                   (258)
                                                                       -------                -------

Net cash (used) provided by investing activities                        (2,764)                20,376

Cash flows from financing activities:
     Dividends paid                                                       (600)                  (493)
     Proceeds from borrowings                                                -                 30,000
     Payments on long-term borrowings                                   (2,714)                     -
     Purchases of treasury stock                                             -                (60,257)
     Exercise of stock options                                             412                    168
                                                                       -------                -------

Net cash used by financing activities                                   (2,902)               (30,582)

Effects of exchange rate changes                                            50                   (240)
                                                                       -------                -------

Net increase (decrease) in cash & cash equivalents                       3,326                 (4,949)

Cash & cash equivalents at the beginning of the period                   4,358                 14,575
                                                                       -------                -------

Cash & cash equivalents at the end of the period                       $ 7,684                $ 9,626
                                                                       =======                =======



The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.



                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (Unaudited)

1.        Financial Statements

     The  consolidated  balance  sheet at August  1,  1998 and the  consolidated
statements  of income  and  retained  earnings  and cash  flows for the  interim
periods  ended  August 1, 1998 and August 2,  1997,  have been  prepared  by the
Company,  without  audit.  The April 30, 1998  balance  sheet was  derived  from
audited  financial  statements  and  as  presented  does  not  include  all  the
disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. In the opinion
of management,  all adjustments,  consisting only of normal recurring  accruals,
necessary to present  fairly the  consolidated  financial  position,  results of
operations and cash flows have been made.  These  financial  statements  include
forward  looking  information  as defined by the Private  Securities  Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and therefore  results of operations for the interim  periods
are not  necessarily  indicative  of the  operating  results  for a full year of
future operations.

     Certain  amounts in the financial  statements  for April 30, 1998 have been
reclassified to conform with the current periods presentation.

2.       Inventories

         The components of inventories are:         (Thousands of Dollars)
                                               August 1, 1998   April 30, 1998
                                               --------------   --------------

         Raw materials and purchased parts          $   4,345        $   4,545
         Work-in-progress                               1,604            1,555
         Finished goods                                 8,584            8,882
         Resale                                           337              378
                                                    ---------        ---------
                                                     $ 14,870         $ 15,360
                                                    =========        =========

3.       Investments

     The Company  accounts  for  investments  in  accordance  with SFAS No. 115,
"Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity  Securities".  During the
first  quarter of fiscal year 1999 the Company  sold  approximately  $770,000 of
investments previously classified as held-to-maturity. Proceeds from the sale of
these  investments were used for the acquisition of Environmental  Test Systems,
Inc.  (ETS).  Upon the sale of the  investments  the Company  realized a gain of
$1,000.  In  addition,   all  remaining  investments  previously  classified  as
held-to-maturity  have been reclassified as  available-for-sale.  At the time of
the  transfer  these  investments  had  a  carrying  value  of  $930,000,  which
approximated the fair value. These investments have been reclassified because of
the liquidity needs brought about by the acquisition of ETS on April 30, 1998.


4.       Property, Plant and Equipment

     The Company  capitalizes  interest  costs on certain  assets that require a
period of time to prepare them for their  intended  use.  Total  interest  costs
incurred  during  the  quarter  ended  August  1,  1998 and  August 2, 1997 were
$574,000  and  $140,000  respectively,   of  which  $109,000  and  $13,000  were
capitalized to fixed assets, respectively.

5.       Income Taxes

     For both periods presented, the provision for income taxes is based upon an
expected annual  effective  income tax rate. The rates utilized for the quarters
ended August 1, 1998 and August 2, 1997 were 36.7% and 35.5% respectively.


6.       Earnings Per Share

     The Company  adopted the  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No.
128,  "Earnings  Per  Share"  in the  quarter  ended  January  31,  1998 and all
historical  net income per share data  presented has been restated to conform to
the provisions of this statement. The standard established a different method of
computing  net  income  per share  than was  required  under the  provisions  of
Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion No. 15. The following table reconciles the
basic  and  diluted  earnings  per  share  (EPS)  computations  as  shown on the
Consolidated  Statements of Income and Retained Earnings included in this report
on Form 10-Q.


                               EARNINGS PER SHARE
                    (Thousands of Dollars Except Share Data)
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                                              Quarter Ended
                                                                              -------------
                                                            August 1, 1998                      August 2, 1997   
                                                            --------------                      --------------               
                                                                                                
                                                                             Per                                  Per        
                                                                             Share                                Share      
                                                       Income     Shares     Amount       Income      Shares      Amount    

Basic earnings per share
  Income available to common stockholders              $3,450     17,064     $ 0.20       $3,320      20,998      $ 0.16 

Effect of dilutive securities
  Stock options                                            -         108        -             -           34          -    
                                                       ------     ------     ------       ------      ------      ------
Diluted earnings per share
  Income available to common stockholders              $3,450     17,172     $ 0.20       $3,320      21,032      $ 0.16
                                                       ======     ======     ======       ======      ======      ====== 

 
     Options to purchase shares of the Company's  common stock of 20,356 for the
quarter  ended  August 2, 1997 were  outstanding  but were not  included  in the
computation  of diluted EPS because the price of the  options,  which range from
$8.0625 to $10.375 per share for the quarter  ended August 2, 1997,  was greater
than the average market price of the common stock for the period  reported.  The
outstanding options not included in the calculation for the quarter ended August
1, 1998 will expire in between February 1998 and February 2006.


7.       Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

     The Company has adopted Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," which requires that all components of
comprehensive income and total comprehensive income be reported and that changes
be shown in a financial  statement  displayed with the same  prominence as other
financial  statements.  The Company has decided it will present this information
in its statement of stockholders' equity in its annual financial statements. The
total  comprehensive  income for the quarters ended August 1, 1998 and August 2,
1997, was comprised of the following:


                                          August 1, 1998      August 2, 1997
                                          --------------      --------------

Net income                                       $ 3,450             $ 3,320
Foreign currency translation adjustment               50                (240)
                                          --------------      --------------
Comprehensive income                             $ 3,500             $ 3,080
                                          ==============      ==============

     In July 1997, the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS
No. 131,  "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,"
which is  effective  for fiscal years  beginning  after  December 15, 1997.  The
interim  reporting  disclosures  are not required in the first year of adoption.
SFAS No. 131 specifies revised  guidelines for determining an entity's operating
segments and the type and level of financial  information to be disclosed.  SFAS
No. 131 changes  current  practice under SFAS No. 14,  "Financial  Reporting for
Segments of a Business  Enterprise," by establishing a new framework on which to
base  segment  reporting.   The  "management"   approach  expands  the  required
disclosures for each segment.  The Company will adopt SFAS No. 131 in its annual
financial  statements  for  the  year  ended  April  30,  1999  and  has not yet
determined the impact of such adoption.

     

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
         Results of Operation

Analysis of Financial Condition:

     Cash and short-term  investments increased $2,970,000 during the quarter to
$8,008,000.   Prior  to  the  purchase  of  Environmental  Test  Systems  (ETS),
approximately   $770,000  of  investments  used  in  the  transaction  had  been
classified as held-to-maturity.  Upon the sale of these investments, the Company
realized a gain of $1,000.  All remaining  securities  previously  classified as
held-to-maturity  have been  reclassified as  available-for-sale.  Additionally,
long-term debt decreased by $2,694,000 to $33,300,000.

     The Company monitors cash flow and capital  expenditures in great detail as
part of its total  budgeting  process.  During the first  quarter of fiscal year
1999, the Company completed the construction of a 66,000 square foot building at
the  Loveland,  Colorado  site.  Capital  needs in the near  future  will be for
production  equipment  as well as  computer  hardware  and  software  to support
distribution, research and development and administration.

     The Company intends to finance its capital  projects and dividend  payments
through existing cash and cash equivalents,  short-term  investments,  projected
cash flow from operations and bank borrowings.

Year 2000 Computer Systems Compliance

     The Company is in the process of the  modification or conversion of Company
computer systems to provide for proper functioning beyond calendar year 1999. It
is anticipated that  substantially all of these Year 2000 costs will be incurred
during fiscal 1998 and 1999.  Maintenance or modification costs will be expensed
as incurred,  while the costs of new software will be capitalized  and amortized
over  the  software's  useful  life.  Management  believes  that  resources  are
available to complete the  modification  and  conversion and that its costs will
not materially affect the Company's  operating  results or financial  condition.
Management  believes that the Year 2000 compliance will be completed well before
the  end of  fiscal  year  1999.  The  Company  cannot  predict  the  nature  or
materiality   of  the  impact  on  its   operations  or  operating   results  of
noncompliance by parties outside of its control.

Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

     In July 1997, the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS
No. 131,  "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,"
which is  effective  for fiscal years  beginning  after  December 15, 1997.  The
interim  reporting  disclosures  are not required in the first year of adoption.
SFAS No. 131 specifies revised  guidelines for determining an entity's operating
segments and the type and level of financial  information to be disclosed.  SFAS
No. 131 changes  current  practice under SFAS No. 14,  "Financial  Reporting for
Segments of a Business  Enterprise," by establishing a new framework on which to
base  segment  reporting.   The  "management"   approach  expands  the  required
disclosures for each segment.  The Company will adopt SFAS No. 131 in its annual
financial  statements  for  the  year  ended  April  30,  1999  and  has not yet
determined the impact of such adoption.



Results of  Operations:  Quarter  ended August 1, 1998 compared to quarter ended
August 2, 1997.

     Net sales increased 13.5% to $36,776,000 from $32,414,000. The increase was
primarily due to the acquisition of Environmental Test Systems, Inc. (ETS) which
was completed on April 30, 1998. For the quarter ended August 1, 1998,  ETS' net
sales were  $4,211,000.  Exclusive of ETS,  domestic sales  increased 0.2% while
international  net sales increased 1.0%.  Sales throughout Asia, which represent
approximately  8.0% of consolidated  sales decreased 21.0% from the prior year's
first  quarter.  Asian sales were down due to weaker  economic  conditions and a
stronger  dollar  versuses local  currencies.  Sales for the Company's  European
subsidiary  increased  approximately  12.0%.  Approximately 60.0% of ETS' yearly
sales  are  pool  and  spa  testing  products  which  are  seasonal  in  nature.
Historically,  about  80.0%  of pool and spa  testing  products  sales  occurred
between January and July.

     Cost of sales increased 9.2% to $18,080,000  from  $16,551,000.  This item,
composed of material, labor and product overhead, increased primarily because of
unit volume  increases.  The gross profit percent  increased to 50.8% from 48.9%
due to the  mix of  products  sold  and  higher  margins  on  products  sold  by
ETS.

     Selling,  general and administrative expense increased 17.1% to $10,406,000
from  $8,886,000.  The increase  was due to  additional  personnel  from the ETS
acquisition,   higher  payroll  and  related   expenses  and  costs  related  to
implementation of a new company-wide integrated software system.

     Research  and  development  expense  increased  15.5%  to  $2,502,000  from
$2,167,000.   The  increase  was  due  to  additional  personnel  from  the  ETS
acquisition  higher  payroll and related  expenses and planned  expansion of the
Company's research and development efforts.

     Interest income  decreased to $164,000 from $480,000.  The decrease was due
to lower average investment balances in the current period.

     Interest expense increased to $506,000 from $140,000.  The increase was due
to interest on a long-term  loan used to  repurchase  Hach Company  common stock
owned by Lawter International, which was entered into in July, 1997.

     The effective  income tax rate was 36.7% in the current period  compared to
35.5% in the prior year's second  quarter.  The increase is primarily due to the
amortization  of  non-deductible  goodwill which was recorded in connection with
the ETS acquisition and the expiration of a tax credits for research activities.


Part II.  Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         None

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)  1.  Report of Independent Accountants.  

     2.  Awareness Letter of Independent Accountants.

     3.  Financial Data Schedule

(b)  During the quarter ended August 1, 1998, the  Registrant  filed a report on
     From 8-K announcing the completion of the acquisition of Environmental Test
     Systems,  Inc.(ETS),  and that the Company  would take a one time charge of
     $3,000,000  for in-process  research and  development  associated  with the
     acquisition.  The Company also stated that Mark J. Stephenson  would remain
     President of ETS and would become Vice  President of Marketing and Services
     for Hach Company.


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



                                  Hach Company

By: /s/ Bruce J. Hach
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Bruce J. Hach, President and Chief Operating Officer

September 11, 1998     
Date                  





By: /s/ Gary R. Dreher
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Gary R. Dreher, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

September 11, 1998     
Date