<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ON
PAGES 3, 4 AND 5 OF THE  COMPANY'S  FROM 10-Q FOR THE  QUARTERLY  PERIOD  ENDING
JANUARY 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                       0000044764
<NAME>                                    HACH COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-30-1999
<CASH>                                           5,875
<SECURITIES>                                       880
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,841
<ALLOWANCES>                                       406
<INVENTORY>                                     13,995
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                44,792
<PP&E>                                          90,912
<DEPRECIATION>                                  51,739
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 102,144
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           12,540
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        23,246
<OTHER-SE>                                      25,712
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   102,144
<SALES>                                        103,258
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               103,258
<CGS>                                           51,404
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   51,404
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                37,080
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,477
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,685
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,870
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,815
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,815
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .51