<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000032379
<NAME> ELIZABETHTOWN WATER CO
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      583,462
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         80
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          33,398
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        37,910
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 654,850
<COMMON>                                        15,741
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      128,284
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             55,117
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 199,142
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     12,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           231,955
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              15,000
<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>                 196,723
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  654,850
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       32,739
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,892
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      20,513
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      23,405
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          9,334
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 231
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   9,565
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,878
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,687
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        203
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    5,484
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,238
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,713
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          19,872
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>All amounts in thousands of dollars except per share amounts.
</FN>