<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000032379
<NAME> ELIZABETHTOWN WATER CO
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      560,925
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         80
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          37,961
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        46,925
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 645,891
<COMMON>                                        15,741
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      118,295
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             49,918
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 183,954
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     12,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           231,941
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              21,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       30
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 196,466
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  645,891
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       32,333
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,518
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      20,834
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      23,352
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          8,981
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 103
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   9,084
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,222
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,862
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        203
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,659
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,019
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,394
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           4,941
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
</FN>