EXHIBIT 23






                          Independent Auditors' Consent








We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Registration  Statement  No.
33-11717 of Middlesex Water Company on Form S-3 of our report dated February 18,
2000,  incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Middlesex
Water Company and it subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 1999.




/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
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DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Parsippany, New Jersey
March 23, 2000