<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000032379
<NAME> ELIZABETHTOWN WATER CO
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  519,048,241
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    152,101
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      27,347,572
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    27,347,572
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             588,057,989
<COMMON>                                    15,740,602
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  112,250,003
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         48,805,674
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             176,796,279
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 12,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       181,925,252
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          32,000,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   30,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             185,306,458
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              588,057,989
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   25,760,090
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         1,455,502
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  18,653,649
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  20,109,151
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      5,650,939
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             804,965
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               6,455,904
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     2,861,728
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,594,176
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    203,250
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                3,390,926
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     3,856,837
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    3,252,986
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       6,377,405
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0