<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000032379
<NAME> ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      591,851
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         80
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          37,537
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        38,465
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 667,933
<COMMON>                                        15,741
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      130,291
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             59,328
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 205,360
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     12,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           231,955
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              21,000
<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>                 197,588
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  667,933
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       38,821
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,493
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      22,102
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      26,595
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         12,226
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 260
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  12,486
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,797
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,689
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        203
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    8,486
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,276
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,651
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          30,573
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>All amounts in thousands of dollars except per share amounts.
</FN>