<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000032379
<NAME> ELIZABETHTOWN WATER CO
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      576,906
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         80
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          35,138
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        37,240
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 649,364
<COMMON>                                        15,741
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      125,573
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             53,873
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 195,187
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     12,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           231,953
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              11,000
<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>                 199,197
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  649,364
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       30,507
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,413
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      19,692
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      22,105
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          8,402
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  79
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   8,481
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,836
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,645
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        203
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,442
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,107
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,624
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          17,514
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0